Puntland Maritime Police Force
| Puntland Maritime Police Force | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | PMPF |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 2011 |
| Employees | 1000 |
| Legal personality | Governmental: Government agency |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| National agency | SOM |
| Governing body | Puntland |
| General nature |
|
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | Bandar Siyada, Somalia |
| Agency executives |
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| Website | |
| pmpf |
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The Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) is a security force based in Puntland, an autonomous region in northeastern Somalia. As of March 2012, the PMPF had around 500 personnel. The Force is eventually expected to comprise 1,000 personnel.
According to Puntland authorities, it is primarily aimed at preventing, detecting and eradicating piracy, illegal fishing, and other illicit activity off of the coast of Somalia, in addition to generally safeguarding marine resources. Yet the UN Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group (SEMG) said in 2012 that its primary focus was internal security operations.
As of April 2014, Abdinasir Bihi Sofe serves as the force's Director. Its main base is located in Qaw, Bari.
The PMPF was established after the Puntland administration in 2010 passed Somalia's first Anti-Piracy Law. According to the former president of Puntland Abdirahman Mohamud Farole, the Force was formed in response to requests from the international community and the U.N. Security Council to establish local anti-piracy law enforcement institutions.Erik Prince, a businessman and former Navy Seal said he came up with the idea to create an anti-piracy force.
The Puntland Maritime Police Force has been supported by the United Arab Emirates since its formation in 2010. UAE sources acknowledged supporting the force in 2013. As of 2014, it continues to receive support from the UAE.
Prior to its deployment, United Nations bodies have questioned both the mission and legality of the force. According to a UN working group, its chain of command is not clear, as its legal basis in Somali or Puntland law is not documented, and it appears to report only to the President of Puntland. In 2012, before the PMPF was deployed, the Monitoring group said that its primary focus was internal security operations.
The UN Mercenaries' Working Group reported after its visit to Puntland in December 2012 that "..financing for the PMPF has now dried up and that the Government of Puntland is seeking ways of continuing to finance its operations." However, on 28 March 2014, another Puntland-UAE agreement stipulated that the UAE government would continue to support the PMPF. This support has been provided in violation of the arms embargo upon Somalia, stipulated in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1425 (2002).
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