The European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) has patrolled Somali waters since 2008, supposedly to combat piracy and secure trade routes. While piracy was a real threat in the late 2000s, the mission has long exceeded its original purpose. Instead of strengthening Somalia’s maritime security, EUNAVFOR has purposely pursued its desired objectives of reinforced external control over Somalia’s territorial waters.
EUNAVFOR’s presence is partly backed by the 2009 Djibouti Code of Conduct (DCoC), supported by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and major international shipping companies. It gave foreign navies, particularly the European Union, a pretext to assert control over Somali waters.
