Somalia in the Midst of Renewed Piracy: What Security Options? скачать в хорошем качестве

Somalia in the Midst of Renewed Piracy: What Security Options?

The guest of the seventh edition of “My African Hour” is the Franco-Somali businessman and candidate for the 2026 presidential elections in Somalia, Mr. Abshir Aden Ferro. In this issue devoted to security in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, the CEO of the London based Fort Roche group, which deals with securing sites, discusses the consequences for Somalia of renewed violences in the Horn of Africa due to attacks by the Houthis from Yemen, supported by Iran. The association Mon Heure d’Afrique, that produces the eponymous TV show (MHA), has asked for three reports realized on the ground in Somalia, Djibouti and Ethiopia for its guest to comment live. Already battered by thirty years of civil war, Somalia is experiencing a new upsurge in piracy, after the relative lull of the last ten years. Being located in the midst of Red Sea, Djibouti occupies a strategic place in the region, with fleets from around the world patrolling at its shores. This neighbor of Somalia has managed to do well until now, even taking advantage of the interruption of maritime trade due to Houthi attacks thank to its port. Ethiopia, which has 123 million inhabitants, is with no access to the sea after losing its war against Eritrea in 1991. To escape the extra costs imposed by Djibouti for the use of its port facilities, Addis Abeba has signed, on January 1, 2024 a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Somaliland regarding the port of Berbera. Somalia protested the deal since Somaliland is a self-proclaimed state without international recognition. Mr. Ferro is being challenged as well by two eminent experts: the first one is the former special representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations (RSSG) in Somalia from 2007 to 2010, Mr. Ahmedou Ould Abdallah. His first question is about how Mr. Ferro intends to resolve the problem of the conflict with the armed group Al Shabab if he wins the presidential elections in 2026. Since 2007, this terrorist group has fought the Somali government and the African Union Transitional Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), a multidimensional peace keeping mission authorized by the African Union and mandated by the United Nations Security Council. Mr. Ould Abdallah also asks the question about the African Union sending troops to Somalia and how Mr. Ferro sees this AU mandate in Somalia evolving if he is elected. The expert on the geopolitics of Iran, Mr. David Rigoulet-Roze, is the second one to challenge him. He is a researcher attached to the French Institute of Strategic Analysis (IFAS), an associated researcher at the Institute of International and Strategic Relations (IRIS) and editor-in-chief of the magazine Strategic Orients. He questions Mr. Ferro on two counts: on the one hand, how the latter would like to see the mission of EUNAVFOR evolving. EUNAFVOR ATALANTA has been fighting against piracy in Somalia since 2008 within the framework of the European ATALANTA operation. And, on the other hand, how Mr. Ferro sees his country, Somalia, which is located on a strategic global navigation route in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, facing the rivalries of great powers like the United States and the China, but also emerging powers like Turkey, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and, of course, Iran. 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:50 Context 00:01:55 Who are you, Mr. Abshir Aden Ferro? 00:40:50 How Houthis attacks impact the region? 00:06:30 News report on Somalia with Mr Ferro comments 00:12:50 News report on Djibouti and Mr Ferro comments 00:19:20 News report on Ethiopia and Mr Ferro comments 00:26:47 Are you ready for presidential campaign? 00:32:16 Mr. Ahmedou Ould Abdallah as 1st expert - How to get rid of Al-Shabaab? 00:38:40 Mr. David Rigoulet-Roze as 2nd expert - The future of the mission of EUNAFVOR ATALANTA? 00:43:23 Mr. David Rigoulet-Roze as 2nd expert - How Somalia will take his place in the context of conflits and global interests in the Red sea Region? 00:46:08 Damned or Blessed : Testimony of Philippe BOHN and the France's interests in the Région? 00:50:30 Conclusion