General Jean François Hogard, commander of the French forces in the southern zone of the Indian Ocean (FAZSOI), said last week that piracy in the seas around Somalia no longer poses a threat to merchant shipping. The general, who has just completed his three-year term as head of Réunion-based FAZSOI, nevertheless warned President James Michel of Seychelles that the causes of piracy have not yet been eradicated. He emphasised the need to remain vigilant, echoing comments made to IHS Maritime late last year by Seychelles foreign minister Jean Paul Adam. Gen Hogard noted that during his term of office FAZSOI trained 600 members of the Seychelles Peoples Defence Force, and French naval vessels made 34 visits to Seychelles waters. The general will be taking up a new post as security consultant at the French Ministry of Defence.
Posted on: Thu, 26 Jun 2014 02:01:17 +0000
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