A three-man AFM team of military instructors left for Uganda last week to participate in the European Union’s training mission, Eutm Somalia.
The mission supports a UN resolution which aims to improve the living conditions of the Somali population while creating a more secure environment in which the country’s transitional government and its institutions can operate unhindered by the criminal and radical groups in the region.
Based in Uganda, Eutm Somalia is primarily responsible for providing Somali soldiers with professional infantry training to improve their capability to counter threats to national security, effectively contributing to the stability of their country.
Malta has been participating in this mission from the beginning, with the first team deploying in April last year.
During the initial six-month tour, the Maltese infantry instructors were integrated in a joint Maltese-Irish six-man team.
They provided instruction to Somali recruits on soldiering skills, including use of military equipment and infantry tactics and procedures. Over 200 Somali recruits were trained during this first phase.
The second group of Maltese instructors are operating in a joint Maltese-Irish team and are currently undergoing induction training with other teams, from 14 EU countries, in preparation for the arrival of a second batch of Somali recruits at the base.
Malta’s participation in EU Crisis Management operations is not limited to its commitment in Uganda.
Since September 2008, the AFM has been constantly deploying two monitors to Georgia in support of the European Union mission, Eumm Georgia.
The mission was launched on September 8, 2008 on the signing of the Implementation Measures Agreement between the Georgian and Russian authorities, which accord stipulated the delineation lines and the manner how the withdrawal of troops by the belligerent parties was to be conducted from the contested regions.
The Maltese monitors, who are based in Gori, are responsible for monitoring, together with 250 monitors from 26 of the 27 EU member states, the administrative boundary line which separates Georgia from the breakaway region of South Ossetia.
Their main task is to patrol, observe and report on the situation in a bid to help create a peaceful environment for the locals. The monitors’ presence has contributed greatly to the attainment peace and stability in the region.
The last Maltese team to be deployed to Georgia on a one-year tour of duty left Malta on September 15.
Since November 2008, the AFM have constantly contributed an officer to the EU’s anti-piracy mission operational headquarters in the United Kingdom. Operation Atalanta is the EU’s response to the outbreak of acts of piracy occurring off the coast of Somalia.
The operational headquarters is responsible for co-ordinating the mission’s efforts off the horn of Africa in securing maritime routes used by World Food Programme and African Union shipping delivering humanitarian aid to the Somali population.
Malta also participated in Operation Atalanta last year by deploying a 12-man vessel protection detachment in the Gulf of Aden on board the Dutch military vessel, HNLMS Johan de Witt.
Following an invitation by the Dutch Ministry of Defence preparations are in hand to deploy a second detachment of Maltese soldiers on board a Dutch vessel in the coming months.