About EUCAP Somalia
In July 2012, the European Union (EU) launched EUCAP Nestor, a regional civilian maritime capacity building mission which aimed at supporting hosting countries in developing self-sustaining capacity to enhance maritime security sector. EUCAP Nestor was mandated to work across the Horn of Africa and Western Indian Ocean, with a focus on counter-piracy.
At the end of 2016, following a strategic review, the Mission was rebranded as EUCAP Somalia, with activities focusing only on Somalia, including Somaliland.
Download our fact sheet HERE.
Our 2025 - 2027 Mandate
The European Union Capacity Building Mission in Somalia (EUCAP Somalia) is a civilian crisis management mission, that supports the development of Somali Police Force and the strengthening of Somalia’s maritime security sector.
In December 2024, the Council of European Union extended the Mission’s mandate to February 2027.
The Mission is mandated to assisting Federal Somali Police Force to enhance law enforcement capabilities while supporting Somali authorities in developing an effective internal security framework and rule of law. The mandate also includes assisting Somalia in strengthening its maritime security capacity in order to enable it to enforce maritime law more effectively.
In the spirit of the EU integrated approach, it cooperates with the European Union Special Representative for the Horn of Africa, the European Union Delegation to Somalia, the military European Union Training Mission to Somalia and the European Naval Force Operation Atalanta. EUCAP Somalia collaborates with the United Nations, African Union and other relevant international partners to ensure coherence and sustainability. The Mission’s budget for its current mandate is €110 million.
EUCAP Somalia is based in Mogadishu, with field offices in Somaliland and Puntland and a back-office in Nairobi, Kenya.
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Our work
The Mission is tasked to advise, train, and equip the Federal Somali Police Force and to support the development of a legal framework for Somalia’s internal security architecture. It strengthens synergies between the land and maritime branches of the police and other security sector actors, enhancing their interoperability.
Our work also includes providing monitoring support to regional maritime police forces, including the Somaliland and Puntland Maritime Police Forces, to bolster maritime law enforcement and security. It also works in partnership with Somali authorities to develop selected coast guard functions, addressing maritime challenges such as countering piracy, human trafficking, smuggling, and illegal fishing, while improving overall maritime governance.
Across both land and maritime domains, the mission promotes the rule of law by supporting legal framework development, enhancing police-related capacities, and fostering accountability of Somali authorities. These efforts align with the Somali Transition Plan and the Somali Security Sector Development Plan to guide the transfer of security responsibilities and ensure a secure environment for the Somali population.
Three pillars of EUCAP Somalia
- Support the development of Somali Police Forces by enhancing their capabilities through advising, training and equipping Somali Police Forces in line with the Somali Security Sector Development Plan, ensuring the police are better prepared to maintain security and stability across the country.
- Strengthen Maritime Police Capacities in and around the three main Somali ports (Mogadishu, Berbera and Bossaso) by providing capacity building on coast guard functions.
- Promote the rule of law by working with Somali authorities to enhance accountability within the police force and across the criminal justice chain. This includes supporting the development of legal frameworks necessary for the effective functioning of law enforcement, and security actors in both land and maritime domains, fostering governance and accountability.
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Head of Mission: Kęstutis Lančinskas
On 26 March 2024, the Political and Security Committee has adopted a decision to appoint Mr. Lančinskas as Head of Mission of EUCAP Somalia from 1 May 2024 to 31 December 2024. Since May 2022, he serves as an advisor for national security issues to Prime Minister of Lithuania. Before assuming this position, he was Vice-Minister of Interior, responsible for crisis management and state border protection.
He has provided his EU-related expertise on law enforcement agencies reforms. In the CSDP context, he headed the EU Advisory Mission (EUAM) in Ukraine from January 2016 to June 2019. Prior to joining the EUAM, Mr. Lančinskas served as Chief of Vilnius County Police. Also, he gained diplomatic experience, working at the Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and diplomatic missions in Latvia and Israel.
Mr. Lančinskas holds a Master’s degree in Law. Focusing on internal and external security policy priorities, he has three decades of professional experience in policing, diplomacy and European integration.
You can access Mr. Lančinskas’ CV HERE.
European Union in Somalia
EUCAP Somalia is part of the EU’s integrated approach to Somalia, which comprises of diplomatic efforts, development support, humanitarian aid as well as engagement in the field of law enforcement and rule of law. EUCAP Somalia works in close cooperation with the Delegation of the European Union to Somalia and two other operations under the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP): EU NAVFOR Operation Atalanta, focused on counter-piracy, and the military training mission EUTM Somalia.
The European External Action Service (EEAS) is the European Union’s diplomatic service. It helps the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to carry out the Union’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. The EEAS’ Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability (CPCC), based in Brussels, is the permanent operational headquarters responsible for the operational conduct of EUCAP Somalia and all the other civilian CSDP missions.
The overall EU support in Somalia is provided within the framework of the EU-Somalia Joint Operational Roadmap and the Security Sector Development Plan following priorities and needs identified by the Somali counterparts.
EUCAP Somalia works in synergy with other CSDP actors, EU Delegation, other European initiatives, EU actors and Member States’ support, in coordination with like-minded international partners as appropriate. EUCAP Somalia will not carry out any executive function.