Twenty years ago, the end of the Cold War threw thousands of soldiers to unemployment. Today they work for private companies that provide security and military services to an increasing number of states. NGOs and affected civilians denounce human rights violations perpetrated by military companies while the lack of legislation protects contractors employees from any punishment.

International piracy has been on and off the media for the last two years. Now and again, pirates coming mostly from Somalia attack the shipping routes going through the Horn of Africa. Only last year, pirates performed ninety two attacks. The Maritime Secure Center is the EU organ that coordinates the European mission in the Horn of Africa. Achim Winkler, Commander of the German Navy and spokesman for the EU Naval Force, brings us the latest news directly from their base in Mombasa, Kenya.

In the last five years the routes passing through the Red Sea towards the Suez Channel have been seriously disturbed by the action of Somali pirates. Despite the measures taken by the UN Security Council and the European Union, the situation doesn’t seem to improve.