From 29 Nov to 2 Dec, Rear Admiral Peter Hudson Operational Commander of EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation Atalanta, visitied Djibouti and Kenya to say thank you to the authorities for their cooperation in fighting piracy and for their excellent support to EU NAVFOR. In Djibouti Admiral Hudson met a number of Djiboutian officials and agreed further cooperation and information sharing. He also met UNHCR and was also able to review the facilitites at the French military base where the EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol aircraft are based.
On flying to Nairobi, the Admiral met Kenyan officials and expressed his gratitude for the exemplary role played by Kenya in anti piracy. He also met with representatives from the World Food Programme, UNODC and UNSOA culminating in discussions with Swedish Ambassador Ann Dismor (Sweden holds the EU Presidency) and he also attended EU Heads of Mission meeting at the Embassy.
In Mombasa, Admiral Hudson was invited to meet the Kenyan Navy where he praised the effort of the Kenyan military for their support to EU NAVFOR for the anti piracy effort. Agreements were concluded to take Kenyan Naval Officers to sea in EU NAVFOR warships and the MPRA offered by Kenya on a previous visit by Adm Hudson would be starting operations within a few days. (See future press release)
Admiral Hudson concluded his visit to Africa by hosting a press conference onboarda the EU NAVFOR French ship FLOREAL that was visiting Mombasa at the time. In an address to the ships company of FLOREAL, Admiral Hudson stated “well done for the excellent contribution that you are making to the fight against piracy.”
Postscript: 2 days after this address, FLOREAL played a central role in the capture of eleven pirates off the Seychelles.
On flying to Nairobi, the Admiral met Kenyan officials and expressed his gratitude for the exemplary role played by Kenya in anti piracy. He also met with representatives from the World Food Programme, UNODC and UNSOA culminating in discussions with Swedish Ambassador Ann Dismor (Sweden holds the EU Presidency) and he also attended EU Heads of Mission meeting at the Embassy.
In Mombasa, Admiral Hudson was invited to meet the Kenyan Navy where he praised the effort of the Kenyan military for their support to EU NAVFOR for the anti piracy effort. Agreements were concluded to take Kenyan Naval Officers to sea in EU NAVFOR warships and the MPRA offered by Kenya on a previous visit by Adm Hudson would be starting operations within a few days. (See future press release)
Admiral Hudson concluded his visit to Africa by hosting a press conference onboarda the EU NAVFOR French ship FLOREAL that was visiting Mombasa at the time. In an address to the ships company of FLOREAL, Admiral Hudson stated “well done for the excellent contribution that you are making to the fight against piracy.”
Postscript: 2 days after this address, FLOREAL played a central role in the capture of eleven pirates off the Seychelles.