SOMALIA: Puntland to start construction of new Navy base

Puntland will start construction of a new navy base in the coastal village of Bandar Siyada,  officials said.
Today, construction of Puntland navy base to bolster the fight against Somali pirates began at Bandar Siyada village, about 25km west of Bosaso city, the commercial capital of Puntland.
The construction of the new base includes training centre for new recruits and a command center for the Puntland navy force, funded by a UK based security company, called SARACEN INTERNATIONAL and the Puntland State administration.
A delegation led by Puntland’s Minister of Ports and officials from SARACEN International visited the construction site, today.
The Construction of the base began when the first cornerstone was laid by Mr.Said Mohamed Rage, the Minister of Ports and marine transportation of Puntland.
“…Puntland will establish a new navy force, that is able to combat against pirates and secure our seas….” says Mr.Rage.
“…this will be a new force that is different from previous marine security forces, those forces have failed because they were none state entities, they were controlled by private companies, but now we will create the Puntland state navy that will have all the necessary equipment and training,” said Mr.Rage.
Somali pirates continue their attacks against international ships in the Gulf of Aden, despite the international naval escorts and patrols.
Currently, The EU Naval Force (NAVFOR) Operation Atalanta off Somalia is part of the international naval operation, to protect World Food Programme (WFP) vessels and prevent  piracy.
The construction of this navy base will be the first in Somalia for decades. Somalia has been without an effective central government since President Siad Barre was overthrown in 1991.
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