EUNAVFOR MED Operation Commander visit in Africa
In the framework of a wide range of visits to the regional Countries, the Operation Commander of EUNAVFOR MED – Operation Sophia, Rear Admiral (UH) Enrico Credendino on 10 October visited the African Union in Addis Abeba where he met the Commissioner for Social Affairs, Dr Mustapha Kaloko and the Commissioner for Peace and Security, Mr Smail Chergui.
In both meetings, the Admiral explained the scope and purpose of Operation SOPHIA, in particular the transition to phase 2 on the high seas. They also discussed how best they could achieve the common goal in disrupting the smugglers business model and preventing further loss of live at sea.
Then, on the 12 and 13 of October, he was in Tunisia where he had some meetings with Tunisian authorities, starting from the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, M’hammed Ezzine Chlaifa, Mr Ben Rabah, the Director General External Relations and International Cooperation, and Ms Aicha Kort, the Director of Internal Relations. Also he had a successful series of meetings with UNSMIL and IOM delegations in Tunis.
Furthermore, he paid a visit in Cairo (Egypt) where he met Ambassador Hamdi Loza, Deputy Foreign Minister, General Salah Hegazy, Deputy Minister of Interior, Major-General Mohamed Abdel Aziz, from the Defense General Staff, and Dr. Nabil Elaraby, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States.
Admiral Credendino updated the Egyptian authorities on the status of the EUNAVFOR MED – Operation Sophia mission, underlining the EU’s will to cooperate and intention to tackle the root causes of human smuggling.
Following a decision by the EU Political and Security Committee on 28 September, on 7 October Operation EUNAVFOR MED – Operation Sophia moved to the second phase, where suspected smugglers vessels can be boarded, searched, seized and diverted on the high seas in accordance with the international law.