EUCAP Nestor - Mission accomplished |15 December 2015

The EUCAP Nestor, a civilian mission of the European Union dedicated to enhancing maritime security, has closed down its country office in Seychelles after fulfilling its mission here.

EUCAP Nestor assists host countries in developing a self-sustainable capacity for continued enhancement of the maritime security, including counter-piracy and maritime governance.

The mission is mandated to work across the Horn of Africa and Western Indian Ocean regions, with teams already carrying out activities in Somalia, Djibouti and the Seychelles.

The intention of the EUCAP Nestor activities in Seychelles was to reflect ‘From crime to court’, therefore they have engaged with the Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG), Seychelles Air Force (SAF), the police, attorney general’s office, chief justice administration, the government of Seychelles among other local and international counterparts.

They have also carried out a long array of training interventions here in Seychelles.

“In a true maritime manner mission accomplished ‘Bravo Zulu’, I wish you all fair winds and following seas for your future endeavors,” said Bo Holtse, the head of country office for EUCAP Nestor, in the presence of the French ambassador in Seychelles Lionel Majesté-Larrouy, representatives of the SAF, legal department, police officers among other distinguished guests.

He said that what they have accomplished with Seychelles is at a level where our country is considered a role model and the knowledge as well as  experiences gained have been shared with other regional counterparts such as Tanzania and Somalia.

“At a political level, the dedication and commitment has been equally strong as we have seen the involvement with the agencies. We’ve seen the Seychellois taking responsibility and chairmanship in the construct of the Eastern Africa Standby Forces (EASF) and next year we will also see chairmanship of the contact group on piracy off the coast of Somalia,” he said.

The head of secretariat contact group on piracy off the coast of Somalia Raymond St Ange, on behalf of the government of Seychelles, SCG, SAF, SPDF and his ministry, thanked EUCAP Nestor and wished its next mission much success.

“We definitely as a country have learned a lot and we’ve also been able to communicate something back to EU members and friends of the EUCAP Nestor mission in that given the chance Seychelles rise to the occasion,” he said.

On behalf of the EU, Ambassador Majesté-Larrouy said: “Now Seychelles have in their hands all human resources, legal means and capacity to face to the threats of maritime piracy in the region and more largely in maritime security.”