Denmark–Somalia relations

Denmark - Somalia relations

Denmark	Somalia

Denmark–Somalia relations refers to the current and historical relations between Denmark and Somalia. Denmark is represented in Somalia, through its embassy in Nairobi, Kenya. Denmark has a general consulate in Mogadishu.^[1] Diplomatic relations were established on 9 July 1960.^[2] During the Siad Barre regime, Somalia received aid from Denmark to develop its fishing industry.^[3] Denmark and Somalia desired to strengthen the cooperation and cordinal relations between the two countries, and Denmark agreed to lend Somalia 45 million DKK in 1981.^[4] In 1992, Danish Foreign Minister Uffe Ellemann Jensen visited Somalia.^[5] About 16,000 Somalians live in Denmark.^[6]

In November 2010, Danish Foreign Minister Lene Espersen said that she was prepared to send Danish troops to Somalia and Sudan, after Danish troops leaves Afghanistan in 2012.^[7]

Development assistance

Danish aid to Somalia dates back to 1980. For 17 years, Denmark assisted Somalia with 532 million DKK, which was donated to development aid and humanitarian aid. From 1984 to 1986, Denmark aided Somalia with $4,3 million for the rural transformation.^[8] When the Somali Civil War began, none of the danish projects survived.^[9] In 1992, Denmark assisted Somalia with $7,5 million, but was "not in the position to give the precise amount of its assistance."^[10]

Denmark contributes to strength the democracy in Somaliland, and has supported the Somaliland presidential election, 2010 with aid.^[11] Denmark sends humanitarian assistance to Somalia through the European Union, United Nations, African Union, Intergovernmental Authority on Development and NGOs.^[11] Since 1998, Denmark has assisted Somalia with poverty reduction and improving living conditions for refugees and displaced people.^[12] From 2003 to 2006, Denmark had a water programme in Somaliland, with a water supply in Erigavo. Denmark aided 15 million DKK for the project.^[13] Denmark has said that they want to double their aid to Somaliland.^[11] In June 2008, Denmark assisted 19 million DKK for the humanitarian assistance to Somalia.^[14] In 2011, Danish assistance amounted 370 million DKK, for security, counter piracy, growth and employment and active diplomacy.^[11] Denmark has also trained the Somali policemen through the United Nations Development Programme.^[11] In 2000, Denmark and Germany sent $4,5 million to Somalia for demining.^[15] Denmark also support women's rights in Somalia through Interpeace.^[16] During the 2011 East Africa drought in Somalia and neighboring countries, Denmark has contributed with 130 million DKK to the region.^[17]

Piracy in Somalia

Main article: Beluga Nomination Incident

Denmark contributes with HDMS Esbern Snare (L17) for the NATO Operation Ocean Shield.^[18] A failed rescue operation was carried out by the Danish frigate HDMS Esbern Snare and a Seychellois Coast Guard patrol boat on 26 January. The MV Beluga Nomination was taken over four days before and the attackers cut into the freighter's citadel with a blow torch to get at the crew. The Seychelles patrol boat and the Esbern Snare were dispatched and when they found the pirates and engagement began. Boarding teams from the patrol boat were repulsed but the Seychellois were able to kill one or two of the pirates. Two of the Nomination's crew managed to escape in a lifeboat and were rescued by the Danish though four others were killed either by drowning or the Somalis. Ultimately the operation was aborted and the pirates sailed away with the tanker and seven remaining hostages.^[19]

References

1. ^ "Somalia" (in Danish). Government of Denmark. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Denmark). http://um.dk/da/om-os/ministeriet/find-os/afrika/somalia/. Retrieved 28 June 2011. 
2. ^ "Our Diplomatic Relations". Government of Somalia. http://www.mfa.somaligov.net/Diplomatic%20Relations.html. Retrieved 28 June 2011. 
3. ^ "Somali Fishing Industry Has Potential for Growth". National Marine Fisheries Service. National Marine Fisheries Service. http://spo.nmfs.noaa.gov/mfr4412/mfr44124.pdf. Retrieved 28 June 2011. "The Danish International Development Agency has agreed to provide US$1.4 million for the development of Somalia's north coast fisheries." 
4. ^ Agreement on a Danish Government loan to the Somali Democratic Republic (with annexes and exchange of letters). Signed at Stockholm on 24 March 1981. 20676. Stockholm, Sweden: United Nations Treaty Series. 24 March 1981. pp. 7. http://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/UNTS/Volume%201259/volume-1259-I-20676-English.pdf. Retrieved 29 June 2011. 
5. ^ "Somalia famine worsening, British envoy says". Desert News. Associated Press. 5 September 1992. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/246055/SOMALIA-FAMINE-WORSENING-BRITISH-ENVOY-SAYS.html. Retrieved 18 October 2011. 
6. ^ "Denmark's Somali Community: Breeding Ground for Extremists?". Time (magazine). 6 May 2010. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1951906,00.html. Retrieved 28 June 2011. 
7. ^ "Espersen: Danish soldiers to Africa". Politiken. http://politiken.dk/newsinenglish/ECE1123106/espersen-danish-soldiers-to-africa/. Retrieved 18 October 2011. 
8. ^ Abdi Ismail Samatar (1989). The state and rural transformation in Northern Somalia, 1884-1986. University of Wisconsin Press. pp. 176. ISBN 0299119947. http://books.google.dk/books?id=aAojTjUUrI0C&pg=PA149&dq=&hl=da&ei=jBkeTv3kNojLsgbh5rGyDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CD8Q6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=&f=false. Retrieved 13 July 2011. 
9. ^ "Aid under fire in Somalia". http://www.ninaoghjalte.dk/downloads/forskning/9.pdf. Retrieved 29 June 2011. 
10. ^ UN falls short of Somalian fund-raising goal. The Post and Courier. 14 March 1993. p. 10. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VDxSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mTYNAAAAIBAJ&pg=1252,4164760&dq=&hl=en. Retrieved 18 October 2011. 
11. ^ ^{a b c d e} (in Danish) Politikpapir for Danmarks engagement i Somalia. March 2011. ISBN 978-87-7087-501-1. https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:s55uyTu_bs8J:www.um.dk/NR/rdonlyres/6150EE0A-C5A8-4539-AA3A-582EA096B15A/0/PolitikpapirforDanmarksengagementiSomalia2011DA.pdf+DANIDA+bistand+til+Somalia&hl=da&gl=dk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShLP9gZagBUFTJ1-SPyo9_5lkUgQ6Cvyuia51MFvnRvf6e-C2-JxYHxLG11-W-U5ZErrvEI0FszfuAEG_zQ2W_l8N5OSkMr5jEKEUZU4tdZ40K8LcFN2o9VwQA8Rtvlv6NTxRVs&sig=AHIEtbQP6J7uj0CaUMxX-vsb0dyxs4roSg&pli=1. Retrieved 28 June 2011. 
12. ^ "Regions of origin programme for Somalia". Government of Denmark. Danish embassy in Nairobi, Kenya. http://www.ambnairobi.um.dk/en/menu/Development/RegionsOfOrigin/. Retrieved 28 June 2011. 
13. ^ "Vandprogram i Somaliland" (in Danish). DANIDA. http://www.netpublikationer.dk/um/5479/kap139.htm. Retrieved 28 June 2011. 
14. ^ "Danida-penge mod Somalias nød". Ulandsnyt. 15 June 2008. http://images.u-landsnyt.dk/nyhed/15-07-08/danida-penge-mod-somalias-noed. Retrieved 28 June 2011. 
15. ^ Landmine monitor report by International Campaign to Ban Landmines. p. 259. ISBN 1564322629. http://books.google.dk/books?id=PL2lfi8pN5wC&pg=PA259&dq=&hl=da&ei=pGwKTuKYNcjKsgbNzrG2Dg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CFEQ6AEwCDgK#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 29 June 2011. 
16. ^ "Policy Paper for Denmark’s Engagement in Somalia". DANIDA. DANIDA. p. 6. http://www.afrika.um.dk/NR/rdonlyres/4534134B-6930-4357-8209-A2FCD53FA6BF/0/Policy_Paper_Denmark_Somalia_ENG.pdf. Retrieved 29 June 2011. 
17. ^ "Danmark sender yderligere nødhjælp til hungersnøden på Afrikas Horn". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. 4 August 2011. http://um.dk/da/forside-nyheder-skjult/newsdisplaypage/?newsID=038B6678-C6AE-43A7-8A0D-2FD8E0FBEB2D. Retrieved 6 August 2011. 
18. ^ "Operation Ocean Shield". Manw.nato.int. http://www.manw.nato.int/page_operation_ocean_shield.aspx. Retrieved 28 June 2011. 
19. ^ "Entführtes deutsches Schiff: Tödliches Feuergefecht um gekaperte "Beluga Nomination" – SPIEGEL ONLINE – Nachrichten – Panorama". Der Spiegel. http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/justiz/0,1518,742360,00.html. Retrieved 29 June 2011. 

External links

• "Somalia suicide bomber 'was from Denmark'". BBC News. 10 December 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8406886.stm. Retrieved 29 June 2011. 
• "Denmark to host international meeting on Somalia". Middle East Online. 27 September 2011. http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=48260. Retrieved 18 October 2011.