Somali Minister of Defence Abdihakim Haji Mohamud Fiqi has signed an agreement with the Netherlands-based Atlantic Marine and Offshore Group (AMO) to develop an effective coast guard in Somalia, the company announced Wednesday (July 31st).

The agreement outlines key priorities for coastal security and rule of law, including monitoring, patrolling and securing Somalia's exclusive economic zone, securing trade and ports, protecting natural resources, controlling access to fishing areas, preventing toxic waste dumping, and providing search, rescue and anti-smuggling services.

AMO will be responsible for building a coast guard fleet of long-range patrol vessels equipped with high-speed intervention vessels. The company has prepared training programmes for the Somali Coast Guard Directorate and will establish a training centre to train coast guard personnel, security officers and shore-based security personnel.

The Somali coast guard will eventually assume full leadership of these operations.