Feral Jundi

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Maritime Security: The WFP May Use Private Naval Companies for Somalia Operations

Filed under: Maritime Security,Somalia — Tags: , , — Matt @ 8:04 PM

 This is interesting.  If the WFP is talking about using security contractors, then you know they are serious.  These groups are usually the type that shun security contractors in Africa, but now it seems like attitudes are starting to change.  And especially when there have been 7 hijackings of ships this month alone off the coast of Somalia.  

 

So now the issue is money.  Will the WFP be able to secure the funds necessary to do something like this?  I don’t know, but it sure is interesting that Risk Consultants International Ltd just bought a couple of ships for some kind of naval activity.  –Head Jundi

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Somalian Gunman

 

 

Somalis shot as they hand out aid

 

Gunmen in Somalia have shot dead three elders distributing aid in a refugee camp on the outskirts of Mogadishu.

 

The killings are being linked to a wave of apparently targeted attacks on humanitarian workers.

 

Meanwhile, the World Food Programme has warned that it may have to use private security companies to protect its vessels from pirate attacks in Somalia.

 

The agency has been sending food ships without protective escorts after a Dutch naval mission ended last month.

 

The WFP country director for Somalia, Peter Goossens, told the BBC the threat of piracy was putting at risk vital food aid for millions of people in Somalia.

 

“The problem is twofold – the ships themselves can get hijacked and we lose the food… my biggest problem is that I can’t find enough vessels that are willing to do this work for me unless they get an escort,” he said.

 

Against all the odds we’re running a programme – the biggest we’ve ever had in Somalia – but if I can’t continue doing it, I’m really afraid that we might very well see Ethiopia, like the early ’90s pictures

Peter Goossens

WFP country director for Somalia

 

Mr Goossens warned that the country was at a dire crossroads, with the risk of a famine similar to the early 1990s, when hundreds of thousands died.

 

He added that the UN had spoken to various naval powers who might provide military escorts to aid WFP ships, including Britain, Sweden and India.

 

He said he was grateful for their expressions of interest, but now wanted action.

 

Pirates operate off the coast of Somalia using high speed vessels and automatic weapons.

 

BBC World Affairs correspondent Mark Doyle says that shipping companies regularly pay ransoms of hundreds of thousands of dollars to get their vessels released.

 

Masked men

 

The killings of three local leaders among the refugee community are the latest in a string of apparently targeted attacks on aid workers, which has caused a number of humanitarian agencies to consider pulling out of Somalia.

 

“About five masked men armed with pistols came to our camp, they ordered us to get into our make shift houses and then after a few minutes we heard shots, when we came out three of our men… were lying there,” a witness, Aden Norow, told the BBC.

 

“We do not know why our colleagues were targeted but we suspect it is because they were active in the recent protests against the killings of the aid workers – someone wants to silence us – we do not know who,” Abdow Dahir Mudey said.

 

Another elder was killed in a separate incident some 60km (37 miles) from the city.

 

It is not clear who exactly is behind Friday’s killings, but a BBC correspondent says many factions in Somalia’s chaotic war stand to benefit from the violence.

 

Meanwhile, at least 10 people were killed and 15 others wounded after fighting broke out on Thursday in southern Somalia, 100km west of Kismayo, in the Lower-Jubba region.

 

Somalia has experienced almost constant civil conflict since the collapse of Mohamed Siad Barre’s regime in January 1991.

 

Successive droughts have left an estimated two and a half million in need of food aid. That figure could rise if the droughts and insecurity continue.

Story from BBC NEWS

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Risk Consultants International Ltd has bought six Hugin and Kaparen class patrol boats for “patrolling Africas coast”. The boats is of course now stripped of gun and sensors but should be a fairly nice platform to add stuff to.

 

 

Confirmation of Sale

 

Risk Consultants International Ltd website

 

Friday, July 11, 2008

News: Somalia and Nigeria Are Biggest Piracy Hotspots–Lloyds

Filed under: News,Nigeria,Somalia — Tags: , , , , , — Matt @ 12:16 PM

 

     Nigeria is the one to watch for security stuff, just because of the oil contracts there.  Just today, oil made a big push because of problems in Nigeria.  – Head Jundi

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Somalia and Nigeria are biggest piracy hotspots

By Marcus Hand in Singapore – Friday 11 July 2008

The IMB said the increasing use of automatic weapons remains unacceptable.

MORE than one-third of the piracy incidents reported worldwide in the first six months of this year took place in Somalia and Nigeria.

Out of the 114 piracy attacks reported to the International Maritime Bureau’s Piracy Reporting Centre in the first half of 2008, 24 were off the coast of Somalia and 18 offshore Nigeria.

The failed state of Somalia remained the global black spot with a spate of violent hijackings pushing out well into the main sea lane in the Gulf of Aden. Of the 24 actual and attempted Somalia attacks, 19 were in the Gulf of Aden.

“In the Gulf of Aden at least eight vessels reported being fired upon by pirates armed with rocket propelled grenade launchers and automatic weapons,” the IMB said.

In Nigeria there were 18 attacks largely centred on the port of Lagos.

“Lagos is becoming an increasingly dangerous port, with the number of reported attacks in the area growing from 8 in the first six months of 2007 to 12 for the corresponding period in 2008,” it said.

According to the IMB, in the first six months of 2008, 71 vessels were boarded, 12 vessels were hijacked and 11 vessels were fired upon. A total of 190 crew members were taken hostage, six kidnapped, seven killed and another seven are missing and presumed dead.

“The frequency and level of violence directed at seafarers is cause for alarm. The abduction of crew and the increasing use of automatic weapons remains unacceptable,” said Potengal Mukundan, director of the IMB.

Article from Lloyd’s List

Saturday, June 21, 2008

News: Follow-up to Secopex Deal with Somalia

Filed under: Maritime Security,News,Somalia — Tags: , , — Matt @ 9:59 AM

     This is just a follow-up to the story I posted earlier about Secopex, the French security company that signed a deal with Somalia in regards to anti-piracy.  It seems that money will be an issue for Secopex.  I have posted the original article at all the major forums, asking for any clarity from the various professionals out there.  So far, most have viewed this as a joke or just one more company talking a big game.

   To break it down to it’s simplest form, Secopex has permission to do business in Somalia, but Somalia isn’t paying them one dime for the service.  So where will the money come from?  Donations, lots of donations.  LOL.  Namely from the UN or any companies that would like to use the services of Secopex, to secure a shipping lane through Somalia’s waters.

   This sounds a lot like a company named Top Cat Marine Security, that tried doing the same thing awhile back.  That company failed, yet they certainly talked a good game, and created quite a buzz.  

    So all eyes are on Secopex, and we’ll see if they can secure the donors necessary to do this.  But to reiterate, these guys will not be hiring anytime soon.  Also, if anyone from the company is reading this, we would love to hear from you about the matter.  –Head Jundi

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Conflicting Reports Arise About Role of French Security Firm in Somalia

By Alisha Ryu

Nairobi

20 June 2008

The office of the president of Somalia’s transitional federal government says there have been misleading reports regarding an agreement President Abdullahi Yusuf signed last month with a private French military company. As VOA Correspondent Alisha Ryu reports from our East Africa Bureau in Nairobi, the firm says it has been given an exclusive, three-year mandate to provide maritime security and to train a Somali presidential guard unit. But President Yusuf’s office says he has not signed any such deal.

(more…)

Monday, June 16, 2008

News: French Security Firm to Curb Piracy in Somalia

     Interesting news, and we’ll see how it goes.  I have no clue if Secopex is hiring or not, and the best thing to do is just ask them direct if you are are wanting to get in on this contract.  My guess is they already have their guys lined up, and they are all probably French.  But you never know, so give them a call if you are interested.  –Head Jundi

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 Secopex

 

French security firm to curb piracy in Somalia

Saturday, 14 June 2008

Somalia: A private French military firm signs a contract with Somali authorities to boost the security off the country’s coast. Pierre Marziali, CEO of the firm Secopex said the country has been plagued by high-profile piracy in recent years. He added that the deal would “strengthen maritime business” off Somalia.

The deal is estimated to be worth between 50 and 100 million euros (USD 75-150 million) annually for the next three years and comes after the hostage-taking incident by Somali pirates of a French luxury yacht, the Ponant, in April.

Marziali went on to add, “Our core business is primarily in the US” and went on to say that the Ponant case had played a role in its signing the deal with the Somali authorities, AFP reports said.

The contract amount will depend on a review of existing facilities in Somalia, and will be used to set up a “unified coastguard, creating a comprehensive coastguard information system” as well as forming a special bodyguard for Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed.

Secopex can mobilize up to 2,000 people from around 40 trades, including divers, translators, pilots and nurses.

The firm was founded in 2003 and provides private security, bodyguards, and security advice and auditing and the branch in Carcassonne, southern France, specializes in private military services to sovereign states.

Story Link

 Secopex Company Link

Friday, May 2, 2008

News: US Missile Strike Kills Reputed Al-Qaida Leader in Somalia

Filed under: Africa,News,Somalia — Tags: , , , — Matt @ 11:55 AM

Aden Hashi Ayro 

US missile strike kills reputed al-Qaida leader in Somalia
By MOHAMED OLAD HASSAN – 20 hours ago

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — U.S. missiles destroyed the house of the man identified by the U.S. military as the top al-Qaida commander in Somalia, killing him and 10 others Thursday in a pre-dawn attack that analysts warned could torpedo peace talks.

The killing of Aden Hashi Ayro comes amid escalating fighting and a spiraling humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa nation.

Islamic fighters have staged a series of attacks on towns in the months leading up to the U.N.-sponsored talks, scheduled to start May 10. The insurgents typically hold the towns for a few hours, free people from jails, then withdraw with captured weapons.

Somali government officials have said Ayro, who was believed to be in his 30s, trained in Afghanistan before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States and headed al-Qaida’s cell in Somalia. (more…)

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