New Operation Commander announced for EU Naval Force Somalia
BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, December 18, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Political and Security Committee today announced the appointment of the new
Operation Commander for the EU Naval Force Somalia – Operation Atalanta, which aims to prevent piracy and armed robbery off the Somali Coast and in the Indian Ocean.
Rear Admiral Robert Tarrant of the UK Royal Navy will take up the post of Operation Commander of Operation Atalanta on 16 January 2013. He will replace Rear Admiral
Duncan Potts, who has commanded the EU’s counter piracy mission since 15 June 2011.
Operation Atalanta was launched in December 2008 under the Common Security and Defence Policy and is part of the EU’s comprehensive approach for a peaceful, stable and democratic Somalia. The operation also protects vessels of the World Food Programme delivering food aid to displaced persons in Somalia and shipping of the African Union mission in Somalia (Amisom).
For more information, see http://www.eunavfor.eu
SOURCE
European Council
