Finally! A new sense of optimism has gripped Somalia as the political situation there is beginning to settle down. This is good news for Malta.

If we are concerned about the large number of Somalis landing on our shores then it is in our direct interest to see Somalia get back on its feet again- Simon Busuttil

For even though Somalia is so far away from us, a large percentage of migrants arriving here by boat since 2002, looking for refuge, came from this war-stricken country.

Militant Islamists belonging to Al-Shabaab have been chased out of the capital Mogadishu and many who left Somalia to escape the violence that gripped the country for 20 years are now returning home.

On August, 20, just a few days ago, Somalia’s Federal Parliament met for the first time since the collapse of the central government 20 years ago. Yes, 20 long years that changed the country into a “model” for a failed state. Suffice to say that dangerous pirates operate off the coast of Somalia. And you get the picture.

During these 20 years, the central government all but evaporated and the vacuum it left was filled by a number of rival war lords who fought each other for the control of the country.

In 1992, the UN Security Council approved an American-led military intervention called “Operation Restore Hope” to provide security and protection to some of the country’s territory and to allow the conduct of humanitarian operations and the supply of food to hundreds of thousands of starving Somalis.

But true to style, the Americans soon became involved in military operations to try and apprehend Mohammad Farah Aidid, one of the key war lords. On October 3, 1993, they raided the Olympic Hotel to try and arrest him. In the fighting that ensued, some 18 US soldiers were killed and many others wounded. Hundreds of Somalis also lost their lives.

The battle was later immortalised in the film Black Hawk Down directed by Ridley Scott.

At the end of the actual operation, bodies of dead Americans being dragged through the streets of Mogadishu were shown in the international media.

Four days later, President Bill Clinton withdrew American troops from the country. So what started as a laudable humanitarian mission degenerated into direct involvement in a civil war. From there onwards, political and economic chaos consolidated its grip on Somalia instigating thousands of its citizens to flee and to seek refuge in neighbouring countries. And the more adventurous went farther to try and reach Europe.

Thousands of them arrived in Malta. On its part, the European Union has long been involved in efforts to try and stabilise the situation in Somalia. Year in year out, it has provided relief to millions of Somalis by means of humanitarian aid. And it has also provided development aid.

Moreover, the EU has also conducted military operations to help stabilise the situation.

The EU Military Training Mission (EUTM) trains Somali soldiers and police forces in Uganda. As I understand it, two Maltese officers form part of the EU contingent of trainers. The aim of this programme is to train soldiers and policemen who would then return to Somalia to join the country’s government-controlled security forces.

These enable the government to slowly but consistently extend its control over the entire territory. So the project is highly practical and beneficial.

Furthermore, the EU also operates NAFOR Somalia, a joint naval task force operating around the Horn of Africa to protect the main shipping lanes from Somali pirates.

Launched in 2008, Operation Atlanta, as it is better known, protects ships heading for Somalia with humanitarian aid or supplies for the African Peace Keeping Mission and monitors fishing activities. But later, following a number of acts of piracy which saw maritime insurance soar and shipping in the important trade route around the Horn of Africa seriously threatened, its remit was extended to protect all vulnerable shipping.

You will be proud to know that a dozen or so members of our Armed Forces have served in this operation for quite some time aboard a Dutch vessel which forms part of the EU flotilla off the coast of the Horn of Africa. A Maltese officer also serves in the operation’s headquarters located in the UK.

Yes, we should be proud of our armed forces for participating in this peace-keeping mission. Our size does not and should not preclude us from giving our fair contribution to the cause of peace.

And we also have a strong interest to help out. For if we are concerned about the large number of Somalis landing on our shores in rickety migrant boats, then it is in our direct interest to see Somalia get back on its feet again.

You might say that Somalia is “someone else’s war”. True, but when its ripples reach our shores what happens in Somalia becomes our concern too.

So it is reasonable for us to support the efforts to bring peace and stability to this country.

simon.busuttil@europarl.europa.eu

Simon Busuttil is a Nationalist Member of the European Parliament.