Frégate de Surveillance FLOREAL
en escale au Kenya ATALANTA
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| TAD MONBASA KENYA le 22-12-2011 |
ardi 20 décembre, le capitaine de frégate Christophe Pasco, commandant la frégate de surveillance Floréal, s’est rendu à bord du bâtiment espagnol Patiño, où il a pu rencontrer le capitaine de vaisseau Jorge Manso Revilla qui dirige la force Atalante jusqu’en avril 2012.
La mission européenne de lutte anti-piraterie Atalante se trouve en ce moment affaiblie : seuls trois bâtiments militaires assurent aujourd’hui les missions d’escortes des bâtiments du Programme Alimentaire Mondial (PAM) : le Floréal, le Patiño (Espagne) et le Lübeck (Allemagne), et en parallèle, le nombre d’escortes à effectuer pour acheminer du fret humanitaire en Somalie augmente.
Dans ces conditions les points suivants ont été au cœur des discussions :
- L’optimisation des moyens : Il s’avère primordial pour la force d’optimiser les moyens et d’organiser au mieux les activités dans un souci global d’efficience. La possibilité pour les bâtiments de la force d’effectuer des escortes multiples, comme c’est aujourd’hui le cas pour le Patiño qui escorte actuellement trois bâtiments vers Bossasso (dans le nord de la Somalie) : le MV Carolin Scan, le Marwan H et le Golden Bridge a été soulignée.
- Sensibiliser les armateurs sur l’état général des bâtiments escortés. L’état trop souvent dégradé (mécanique, état général) des bâtiments escortés associé à des conditions météorologiques de mousson, complique considérablement la planification et l’exécution des missions de protection : le convoi escorté par le Patiño n’avance guère à plus de 3 nœuds, mettant en péril le respect des dates de prises d’escortes ultérieures. Il convient de sensibiliser les armateurs et les affréteurs afin de gagner en efficacité et de maitriser des risques,
- Soutenir l’AMISOM afin qu’ils continuent d’assurer seuls la protection de leurs convois. Dans ce contexte, il a été rappelé, l’importance de la formation qui a été dispensée les 26 et 27 novembre derniers à bord du Floréal , formation qui a permis à 25 soldats de l’AMISOM (mission de l’Union africaine en Somalie) d’être autonomes pour la protection et la sécurisation de leurs convois logistiques, permettant ainsi aux bâtiments de la force Atalante de se concentrer sur les bâtiments du PAM. Une prochaine formation de soldats de l’AMISOM est à envisager.
NB: La frégate de surveillance Floréal avait déjà croisé le chemin du Patiño le 9 décembre dernier pour un ravitaillement à la mer (gazole / TR5). Les conditions météorologiques étaient également celles de mousson de Nord-Est dans le bassin somalien : mer 5, vent à 30 nœuds établi, courant portant au sud ouest pour 2 nœuds.
he French frigate FLOREAL finished as an EUNAVFOR warship on the 20 December after 105 days flying the European Flag. She has conducted a variety of tasks in the force and demonstrated a proactive attitude to face all challenges in order to achieve the objectives of Operation ATALANT
http://www.eunavfor.eu/2010/12/eunavfor-thanks-fs-floreal-after-three-and-a-half-months-of-operation-2/
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| au verso le cachet de la mission |
Merci au major Louis S. pour son envoi
Kenyan forces destroy Al Shabaab camps
Published on 17/12/2011
By Athman Amran
Kenya Air Force helicopters have destroyed Al Shabaab camps and killed several militants in Somalia.
On December 13 the military choppers destroyed Al-Shabaab camps at Garbaguso, Afmadow airstrip and Usingo.
The raids were also conducted by the Navy, Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) spokesperson Colonel Cyrus Oguna said during the weekly briefing on the progress of the Operation Linda Nchi in Somalia.
The briefing, which took place at the Foreign Affairs Ministry offices in Nairobi, on Saturday, marked the 62nd day since Kenya launched the offensive against Al-Shabaab in Somalia.
Oguna said on December 14 Air Force helicopters destroyed an Al Shabaab camp at Wamaitho, as the group was preparing to attack Kenyan and TFG forces. And on December 15, helicopters destroyed an Al Shabaab camp at Bungavu in northern Somalia.
Oguna said during the attacks "there were severe casualties" on the side of the Al Shabaab and camps and equipment were completely destroyed.
There have been no casualties on the KDF and TFG forces, said Oguna, who could not give the exact number of the Al Shabaab deaths.
He said the number of the militants injured in the attacks runs into hundreds.
"Kismayu hospital has been overflowing with the injured," he said. Al Shabaab members captured by KDF have been handed over to the TFG forces.
Oguna said the air force has been attacking with "textbook precision" and has reduced collateral damage to "almost nil".
"Intelligence by local people has played a role in ensuring the target is legitimate. We will continue pushing. We will not relent," he said adding that TFG, which is now part of Amisom, is working with local people.
He however, warned those near Al Shabaab establishments in Afgayon, Barawe and Merla to move away.
Review operations
Oguna dismissed assumptions that joining the Amisom forces would undermine ability by the KDF to defend the Kenyan territory.
He said Kenya is looking at the right force levels and enablers to ensure there are tools to secure the country.
"If the Kenyan territory is threatened, KDF will come back and defend it and then go back to Amisom. KDF is very much committed and we will continue defending Kenya," Oguna said.
The spokesperson assured that the Indian Ocean has been safe since August and there has been a lot of activity. He said the shipping traffic has gone up while incidents of piracy have gone down.
"Things are quietly getting back to normal albeit not so fast," Oguna said.
Confidence in the tourism sector has started building and visitors are returning.
Police spokesperson Eric Kiraithe said on the local front security has been enhanced and cooperation from businessmen and the public has prevented possible attacks on airports, business premises and other areas in major towns.
Kiraithe said the Commissioner of Police has directed OCPDs and key security personnel in vital locations and hotels to review their operations.
He disclosed that by the middle of this week security would be tight at supermarkets, bus stops and other public places to ensure the safety of Kenyans.
Photo photo JM Bergougniou
