Djibouti Coast Guard Commander: We rescued ships in Bab al-Mandab… and are ready to confront any threats
The Commander of the Djiboutian Coast Guard, Colonel Bahri Rukn, and Iss Omar Baqri, revealed that the Djiboutian Coast Guard forces have tripled their patrols in the Bab al-Mandab region, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden compared to normal times, as it is a vital region that represents the lifeline of trade and energy to the world, expressing his belief that the impact of tension Current Djibouti maritime security will be limited, and will remain so for the foreseeable future.
Colonel Baqri explained, in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, that the Djiboutian Coast Guard has high coordination with the Djiboutian Navy and other naval forces that are concentrated beyond Djiboutian territorial waters, to secure ships and global trade that pass through Bab al-Mandab, the Gulf of Aden, and the western Indian Ocean.
Baqri, who was speaking from the headquarters of the Djibouti Coast Guard, confirmed that during the past few weeks, his forces provided assistance and security services and rescued many ships affected by the escalation of tension in the Red Sea, adding: “There are also ships waiting for security reasons, and there are some ships that were damaged and came for maintenance and were repaired.” “It was maintained here and then continued its journey, and some ships are still there because our region is safe.”
Colonel and Issa Baqri during a tour with Asharq Al-Awsat in Djibouti’s territorial waters (Photography: Turki Al-Aqili)
Coordination with Saudi Arabia
The Commander of the Djiboutian Coast Guard, who is a graduate of the King Fahd Maritime College in Jubail, thanked the governments of Djibouti and Saudi Arabia for their coordination, interest and tremendous efforts in ensuring maritime security in this vital region of the world.
While Colonel Baqri was leading us on a field tour to witness the efforts of the Djiboutian Coast Guard forces, we saw dozens of ships anchored in Djiboutian territorial waters, after many of them preferred to wait and perhaps change their routes due to the escalation of events in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Baqri stressed that there are plans and strategies ready to confront any challenges now and in the future, as he put it, and he also talked about many other important files. Baqri explained, “The Djiboutian Coast Guard is an institution whose mission is maritime insurance, and it works hard and does its best to perform its duties at sea, especially in Djibouti’s territorial waters and neighboring international waters.”
He added: “We are making tremendous efforts to maintain maritime security, save lives, and implement national and international maritime law, especially in these critical times in which we redouble our efforts to reach the desired goal, which is to secure the money, ships, and people who work at sea.”
A Singaporean merchant ship anchored in Djiboutian waters (Photo by: Turki Al-Aqili)
Double maritime patrols
The Djiboutian official confirmed that the escalation of tension in the region at the present time, especially the piracy events taking place in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab, the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Ocean, prompted the Djiboutian Coast Guard to redouble its efforts to maintain maritime security in the territorial waters and the waters adjacent to them.
He continued: “On the other hand, we participate with the forces present in the region, most notably the Djiboutian Navy and other naval forces that are concentrated beyond Djiboutian territorial waters, and we coordinate, cooperate and exchange experiences. The desired goal is how we maintain maritime security, and how ships and global trade that pass through Bab al-Mandab, the Gulf of Aden, and the western Indian Ocean are safe in this region.” The Commander of the Djibouti Coast Guard confirmed that the impact of the current events in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden on Djibouti is limited and will remain so in the future.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, he added, “The problem has begun, as you can see, and its impact on Djiboutian maritime security and the Djiboutian coast is limited, and in the future we expect this to remain so, but because the region is vital, we will certainly be affected by these problems economically.” As for the security aspect, we are present and will not be greatly affected, while on the economic aspect, we depend 80 percent on trade across the sea, and if some ships or companies change their direction, this will undoubtedly affect our economy.”
Commander of the Djibouti Coast Guard, Colonel Waiss Baqri (Photo: Turki Al-Aqili)
Ready to face threats
Colonel Baqri said: “Certainly, if your neighbor is burning with fire, it will reach you with varying degrees of danger, but thanks be to God, and for the tremendous efforts made by the Republic of Djibouti to secure its sea and land borders, they have paid off and the security and economy of Djibouti have not been affected by what is happening in the region, and we hope that this will continue and be enjoyed.” This country is blessed with prosperity and security, and we also wish our brothers in the neighborhood to enjoy the same security and stability.”
While Colonel Baqri was reviewing some commercial ships anchored in Djibouti’s territorial waters, he stressed that his country has “plans and a strategy ready to confront any challenges that occur in this region.”
As we passed by a giant Singapore ship, he said, “The government in general, especially the Coast Guard and the Navy, is fully prepared to face any challenges that occur.” As officers responsible for security at sea around the clock, even in the absence of a visible threat, we must be ready at any moment, and when challenges occur, the force is prepared threefold, and for the challenges that exist we are ready for them now and in the future.”
Commander of the Djibouti Coast Guard and a number of officers (Photo by: Turki Al-Aqili)
Assisting ships at sea
Colonel Baqri said: “Inside and outside Djibouti’s territorial waters, the Coast Guard provided assistance and security services to a large number of commercial ships passing through the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab, and the Gulf of Aden during the current events.”
He added: “We provided assistance to a large number of ships, and even provided facilities to ships outside the region. Although the territorial waters are several nautical miles away from the Djibouti coast, we provided the ships with security services, and saved some of them from a pirate attack inside Bab al-Mandab. “I remember three ships and three operations in the past weeks.”
He continued: “In the current events, we are helping to secure the ships and their safe passage through the region. There are ships waiting for security reasons, and there are some ships that were damaged and came for maintenance and were maintained here and then continued their journey. Some ships are still there because our area is safe. Any ship that is waiting or needs naval or other escort, here it rests, takes care of logistics, and prepares for the next trip in peace and comfort.”
Djibouti overlooks the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea and plays a pivotal role in protecting international trade (Photo by: Turki Al-Aqili)
Military bases
In response to a question about whether there were fears that foreign military bases in Djibouti would be targeted, as a result of the tension in the Red Sea with the Houthi group, the colonel answered by saying: “The bases are symbolic bases and do not participate in the problems. The majority of their navy does not exist, but rather we are the ones in the country.” They are small groups that exist only on land and have nothing to do with what is happening in the sea. They are like our safe guests, and I do not think that the rules will be affected by what is happening in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab.”
While we were in the office of the Commander of the Djibouti Coast Guard, what caught our attention was the presence behind him of two pictures of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) on a sea tour accompanied by Colonel Baqri. So we asked him about the story, and he replied by saying: “About 6 years ago, President Abu Mazen visited Djibouti to open the Palestinian embassy.” Then he asked to go to the sea, so I took him on this tour, as you can see in the pictures hanging in my office.”
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2024-02-12 18:20:41
