31-07-2017, Entebbe, Uganda: The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) this morning kick started a two day 5th Maritime Security Coordination Committee (MSCC) meeting in Entebbe, Uganda.
The meeting brings together all stakeholders in a forum that includes national, regional, international actors in order to take stock of the progress made since the last MSCC meeting of August 2016.
The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources and Co-Chair of the MSCC; Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed Hashi officiated the meeting in the presence of Amb. Tewolde Gebreskel, the Director of Peace and Security; Ms. Maria Christina Stepanesai, Head of EU-CAP Somalia; H.E Abdullahi Olad Roble, Deputy Minister of Defense of the Federal government of Somalia and other dignitaries from the regional states of Somalia as well as development and UN agencies.
During the opening statement Amb Tewolde assured the participants of IGAD’s unwavered support, dedication and effort towards the maritime domain as well as building governance capabilities and harnessing resources for the development of Somali and for the benefit of its people.
‘We pledge to continue supporting the MSCC as well as strengthen the linkages between the regional states and federal government through different mechanisms such as MSCC that are currently operational’ Amb. Tewolde concluded.
Dr. Hashi in the same spirit called upon all stakeholders to work together to strengthen Somalia’s maritime security which is priority to both the government and the federal member states to have an economic reconstructed and revitalized and secure Somalia.
‘We appreciate IGAD’s effort to bring the stakeholders together and look forward to working closely with international partners in laying foundations of the institutions as well as capacity building of the maritime security’ added Dr. Hashi.
The two day meeting will also get the participants to share lessons, challenges and forge ways forward to combat existing and consistent challenges as illegal and unregulated fishing, piracy and illegal foreign vessels.
