Hiiraan Online
Tuesday February 20, 2018
Members of the Somali maritime police and Djibouti coast guard participate in a visit, board, search and seizure drill (VBSS) during exercise Cutlass Express 2018 in the Port of Djibouti Feb. 5, 2018. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Allyson Manners)
Djibouti (HOL) - The Somali Maritime Police force honed their skills in Djibouti earlier this month with other maritime forces from East Africa, West Indian Ocean nations, Europe and the United during the seventh annual Cutlass Express maritime exercise. The event marked the first time that Somalia has participated in a multinational security exercise outside its borders in nearly 30 years.
The Cutlass Express is one of three Africa-focused regional Express series exercises sponsored by U.S. Africa Command and facilitated by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet.
“Having Somalia be part of this is absolutely phenomenal,” said Rear Adm. Shawn E. Duane, vice commander, U.S. 6th Fleet. “It’s the first time they’ve been able to participate outside their borders in a multinational exercise…it shows a lot of progress and that’s the kind of success that Cutlass Express fosters.”
During the security exercise, the Somali Maritime Police force was able to recieve hands-on training for visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) missions in addition to pier-side and at-sea boarding of vessels by the U.S. Coast Guard and Turkish military.
“We have learned these techniques in classes in Somalia, so Cutlass Express gives us the opportunity to learn tactical application from our partners,” said Somali Military Police Capt. Abdulkadir Muktar. “Applying what we have learned will help us improve our goal of maritime security.”
U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Enforcement Specialist Shane Goudswaard, an instructor who assisted with the VBSS drills and at-sea boarding practical exercise, said that was impressed with Somali officers ability to quickly digest information and execute.
"The Somalis did great at taking all the information that we exchanged this week and really putting it together and making it all mesh into one final boarding,” said Goudswaard. “I was really impressed with how quick they were able to pick it up and apply it to a practical exercise.”
The U.S. Combined Joint Task Force says that the aim of the exercise is to increase capacity and improve combined maritime law enforcement, promote national and regional security and contribute to security force assistance (SFA) efforts throughout the East Africa region.
During the opening ceremony held in Djibouti on Jan. 31, 2018, the State Minister for the Ministry of Internal Security, Mohamed Moalin Hassan, spoke of the significance of Somalia’s participation in the multinational security exercise.
“In a way, our participation here in Cutlass Express is a recognition of how far Somalia has developed over the past few years,” said Hassan. “But this must also be balanced by the equal recognition of how far we are yet to grow before our own rights and security architecture is fully recovered.”
Somalia has already made plans to return next year so that partnerships and skills can continue to grow.
“I have instructed the Somali regiments to learn and to perform to the best of their abilities in ways so that you might invite them again next year,” said Hassan. “We will look forward to further opportunities where we will be able to work together in the future.”