Somalia to acquire first warships since the fall of government in 1991

Somalia is acquiring first warships since the collapse of government over two decades ago to protect its territorial integrity and ward off illegal fishing, the country’s envoy to European Union has said.

According to the Somali government, the warships will also be used to combat foreign ships disposing wastes onto the Somalia’s waters.

Somalia’s ambassador to the European Union Dr. Ali Saed Faqi who visited Atlantic Marine Offshore company (AMOC) the manufacturing center for warships to oversee the process, said that establishing warships for the Somalia government will play a very important role in the protection the country’s territorial waters.

“Getting these warships will help Somalia protect its sovereignty as well its territorial water. It will also protect any threat to Somalia from the sea that includes illegal fishing, illegal importation of firearms and pirates among others,” said Faqi.

Somalia has suffered from illegal unregulated fishing owing to inability to man its waters. A report last year by the US based campaign group Secure Fisheries warned of resurgence of piracy due to foreign illegal fishing.

Foreign industrial fishing boats have resulted in “depleted stocks, a loss of income for Somalis, and violence against local fishers” the report read, adding “it also has threatened to ignite local support for a return of piracy.”

Foreign boats are hauling in three times more than Somali fishermen — an estimated 132,000 metric tonnes of fish each year compared to Somalia’s catch of 40,000 metric tons, according to the report, based on multiple interviews and satellite evidence.

According to Somali National News Agency, Atlantic Marine are expected to manufacture 6 warships in phase one of the agreement and others expected to follow suit after the first dispatch.