EUCAP Nestor organizes training with Tanzania Maritime Police and Tanzania People’s Defense Force
Yesterday morning, 8 officers from the Tanzania Maritime Police (TMP) and 8 officers from the Tanzania People’s Defense Force/ Navy (TPDF/Navy), started a two weeks Criminal Investigation training organized jointly by the TMP, the TPDF and EUCAP Nestor, a EU mission to strengthen maritime security capacities in the Horn of Africa and the Western Indian Ocean.
The training focuses on the collection and handling of evidence. When officers arrest suspected criminals, like smugglers or pirates, their action has to be lawful and the evidence has to be collected in a way that it can be used to prosecute and convict the criminal when brought to justice in Tanzania. The 16 officers will undergo two weeks of intensive theoretical and practical training.
“The Tanzanian authorities and EUCAP Nestor have joined hands to increase maritime security in the region” says Eisso Kronenberg, EUCAP Nestor liaison officer in Dar Es Salaam. “I took up my work a couple of weeks ago and I am glad to see the excellent cooperation and the enthusiasm of my Tanzanian counterparts and of the participants in the training. I am looking forward to more joint activities in this area in the near future”.
Since December 2013, EUCAP Nestor has deployed a liaison officer to Tanzania, currently hosted by the EU Delegation in Dar Es Salaam. The training is the second one held by EUCAP Nestor, the first having taken place in December 2013.
The mission is mandated to work with the main actors responsible for maritime security in each of the host nations. Typically this includes the Navy, the Coast Guard, Maritime Police, prosecutors, judges and other actors in this field. Mission experts provide advice, mentoring and training, which can include law drafting and development of organizational structures.
The strengthening of the regional capacity to counter crimes such as piracy, illegal fishing and illegal trafficking at sea reflects the common interest of Tanzania and the European Union to ensure peace and stability in the Horn of Africa and the Western Indian Ocean, to reduce the cost of trading throughout the region and, in the end, to sustain the economic development and the wellbeing of the citizens.
Background
EUCAP Nestor is a civilian EU mission that assists host countries in the Horn of Africa and Western Indian Ocean region to develop a self-sustainable capacity for enhancement of the maritime security, including counter-piracy and maritime governance. Currently, the mission deploys its activities in Somalia, Djibouti, Seychelles and Tanzania.
EUCAP Nestor is part of a comprehensive approach of the EU to address security challenges in the Horn of Africa and the Indian Ocean region. It is, in fact, complementary to two other EU-missions in the region: the EU Naval Force Somalia -Operation Atalanta and the EU Military Training Mission for Somalia (EUTM-S).
Press release & photo : EUCAP Somalia
