Africa-Press – Cape verde. The European Union has delivered two semi-rigid boats to Cape Verde to help the country combat piracy, illicit trafficking, illegal fishing, and other transnational threats. The delivery takes place within the framework of the West African Integrated Security in Maritime Affairs Support (SWAIMS) project, funded by the European Union with €10 million.
According to RFI, Cape Verde is the first of 12 coastal countries in ECOWAS to receive the rapid response vessels offered by the European Union.
At the official reception ceremony for the two semi-rigid boats, the Minister of State and National Defence, Janine Lélis, stated that the country is taking another significant step in strengthening maritime security.
“The vessels we receive today are not only operational resources, but also instruments for exercising sovereignty, protecting our waters, and affirming our commitment to peace, security, and sustainable development,” said the Minister of National Defence of Cape Verde, according to the same source.
The semi-rigid vessels have a capacity for 18 people, are equipped with a complete communications and navigation aid system, can operate in adverse sea conditions, and have a maximum range of 200 nautical miles.
In turn, the European Union ambassador to Cape Verde, Sylvie Millot, highlighted the upcoming delivery of an ocean patrol vessel to Cape Verde, within the framework of the peace support mechanism, financed by the European Union with 15 million euros. “The European Union will provide Cape Verde with a military vessel similar to the Guardião, thanks to a financial amount of 15 million euros already approved, in the medium term, and hoping that the Guardião will be operational as soon as possible. Cape Verde will have in its possession two military vessels capable of navigating the high seas for several days, in addition to the fast intervention boat like those delivered today,” stated the representative of the community bloc, according to this newspaper’s source.
For More News And Analysis About Cape verde Follow Africa-Press
