French Security Firm to Curb Piracy in Somalia

feraljundi

French security firm to curb piracy in Somalia

Saturday, 14 June 2008

Somalia: A private French military firm signs a contract with Somali authorities to boost the security off the country’s coast. Pierre Marziali, CEO of the firm Secopex said the country has been plagued by high-profile piracy in recent years. He added that the deal would “strengthen maritime business” off Somalia.

The deal is estimated to be worth between 50 and 100 million euros (USD 75-150 million) annually for the next three years and comes after the hostage-taking incident by Somali pirates of a French luxury yacht, the Ponant, in April.

Marziali went on to add, “Our core business is primarily in the US” and went on to say that the Ponant case had played a role in its signing the deal with the Somali authorities, AFP reports said.

The contract amount will depend on a review of existing facilities in Somalia, and will be used to set up a “unified coastguard, creating a comprehensive coastguard information system” as well as forming a special bodyguard for Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed.

Secopex can mobilize up to 2,000 people from around 40 trades, including divers, translators, pilots and nurses.

The firm was founded in 2003 and provides private security, bodyguards, and security advice and auditing and the branch in Carcassonne, southern France, specializes in private military services to sovereign states.

Story Link

Secopex Company Link

Greg21

Strange story, 50 to 100 million euros contracts for a such little (barely known in France) company with absolutely insignificant experience. Was it a 1st April news?

Also they clamed to be able to deploy up to 2000 person!!! Till now no one French company (even the biggest and well known internationally) had such capacity and experience. Even 200 sounds exaggerated.

feraljundi

Yeah, I have not heard much about this company either. I would be interested to hear from any of the company reps or employees, if they have any other information about this contract. Cheers.

Legioner

Lots of frech lads have big doubts on the seriousity about this contract.
Heard that the journalist who made the contract public is a good friend of the
owner and thats all bullshit.AN URBAN LEGEND!!!!
There are rumors that secopex is in liquidation by justice since 31.03.2008.
They are calling themselves an SMP but a french SMP in france is forbidden by law.You can attend a course with them for just 6000 euros where you learn to act like Jean Claude Va Damme and playing paintball.
However if somebody wants an advice stay clear and don't even think about this coy doesn't even worth a mind!!!!

Legio Patria Nostra

feraljundi

Hey Legioner, thanks for your input. I found another story about this, that further brought some attention to the matter. I also found that Morningstar posted it on their website, so the story is making the rounds. It will be interesting to see how this turns out. I am wondering if this might be another 'Top Cat Marine Security' type scenario.

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Agreement between Secopex CSA and Col. Yusuf
Posted on Qaranimo Online - June 02, 2008

Monday, June 02, 2008 - While passing through Paris in early May, President Abdullahi Yusuf signed a security agreement with a French private company based in Carcassonne.
According to TTU, a Paris based newsletter specialising in the defence industry, the French company Secopex CSA has initialled a contract with President Abdullahi Yusuf, concerning support for maritime security in Somalia, the creation of a coastal intelligence unit and the training of the Somalian presidential guard. According to additional information obtained by The Indian Ocean Newsletter, the document initialled by the Somalian President and the representatives of Secopex CSA is in fact a "cooperation agreement" giving the French company an "exclusive mandate" for 36 months to carry out its project.
One aspect of this agreement concerns strengthening the Somalian customs and the maritime police through the creation of a coastguard unit to monitor and tax fishing boats operating in the Somalian territorial waters and to offer boats passing through a security service in return for payment. It also raised the possibility of creating two training centres, one in South Somalia and the other in the North, to respond to a certain ethnic equilibrium.
However, this agreement is not a binding contract whose terms would oblige the Somalian government to pay for Secopex's services. The French company now has to persuade international donors (European Union, International Maritime Organisation and the International Monetary Fund - IMF) to cough up for this ambitious project to bear fruit. That is where the shoe pinches. Secopex's services are estimated to cost in a range of €50 to €100 million a year, for three years. Such a sum would be very difficult to find. Moreover, Secopex will have to send an audit mission to Somalia to cost the project more precisely.
A private military services company founded in 2003 by former servicemen based in Carcassonne, where the 3d regiment of navy infantry parachutists (3e RPIMa) is based, Secopex is currently run by former parachutist Pierre Marziali and General Jean-Pierre Perez . The latter is a former Africa advisor to the French armies chief of staff and has also been a military advisor to the President of the Central African Republic François Bozize . It was through the privileged contacts with certain members of the delegation accompanying Yusuf to Paris that Secopex was able to sign this agreement.

Link to story

protectasia

Rumors of contracts being signed by the Somali authorities with various (and usually unheard of) private companies have been abound for years. If indeed it were true, chances of the company actually getting paid?????????

Blackstone

Outside of this current debate on the rights and wrongs of this company, for those interested in a brief update, check this link to an Inside Story report


its in two parts, but I am sure most will be able to navigate to the 2nd part

Stay Safe all

Blackstone

In fact here is the second part, lol

Carl Dowd

Guys in my experience of Africa I think that protectasia makes a good point regarding the funding of this project... so I feel that 'Caution' is the key word here.

feraljundi

Thanks tallboy, that was an interesting little broadcast. As far as an update, I have posted this news on most of the big forums out there, and the reaction is the same. Very skeptical.

The big one here is funding, and unless these guys have a back room deal going on to get that funding, I think they will become like Top Cat Marine Security and others in the past.

Thanks to everyone for contributing to this post and putting the necessary attention on this matter. Cheers.