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.

What are the latest developments in the Horn of Africa?

In Mombasa the German frigate FGS Rheinland-Pfalz has just berthed in order to get rid of 9 suspected pirates that they arrested earlier this week.

Have you registered more attacks since December, when the international force started opperating in the area?

There are still attempts of highjacking being carried out, but the rate of successful attacks has been significantly reduced since ATALANTA has been established. The last major attack was the one last week, when after that the German frigate forced the pirates to surrender, and two more attacks we had last night, also unsuccessful.

What is the EU Naval Force doing in order to improve the situation in the area?

The EU Naval Force ATALANTA is carrying out a task in order to protect international merchant shipping and in particular WFP shipping into Somalia.

What international forces are taking part on the operation?

Involved in the operation are 5 ships from the ATALANTA Task Force, doing patrol missions along the transit corridor in the Gulf of Aden. One ship is always detached to Kenya to carry out escorts for ships from UN WFP heading to Somalia. Besides the EU-Force there are also other warships from the US-led coalition forces, from Chima, Russia, India, Iran and we are expecting ships from Japan as well. Between all these units (approximately 15 to 20 on average) there is quite good coordination in terms of a reasonable distribution inside the AOO.

Do you think that the political problems in Somalia are somehow the cause of the piracy attacks?

Piracy never has been just a naval problem. The reasons behind are always ashore. In the case of Somalia the reasons most likely are to be seen in the political and perhaps the economical situation in that country. However this is a question which could be answered much more qualified by other sources, rather than by military people.