New Leadership at EUCAP Somalia: Welcoming Mr. K?stutis Lan?inskas as Head of Mission

Europe Somalia

BRUSSELS, 15 May 2024 / PRN Africa / -- "I am immensely pleased to assume the responsibilities of this Mission and I eagerly anticipate commencing my duties. One of my initial tasks will be to acquaint myself with the individuals involved, including both mission members and local stakeholders."

On 26 March 2024, the Political and Security Committee appointed K?stutis Lan?inskas, a Lithuanian national, as the new Head of Mission (HoM) from 1 May to 31 December 2024. He served as an advisor for national security issues to Prime Minister of Lithuania. Before assuming this position, he was Vice-Minister of Interior, responsible for crisis management and state border protection. In the CSDP context, he has also served as the head of mission of the EU Advisory Mission (EUAM) in Ukraine from January 2016 to June 2019.

The European Union Capacity Building Mission in Somalia (EUCAP Somalia) is a civilian crisis management mission that supports the development of Somali maritime security and wider police capacity. The Mission provides strategic level advice, mentoring, capacity building and training on issues ranging from coastguard functions to police-prosecution cooperation and law drafting. The mission’s budget for its mandate for years 2023-24 is EUR 81 million.

EUCAP Somalia is based in Mogadishu with field offices in Somaliland and Puntland, and a back-office in Nairobi, Kenya.

On the occasion of his appointment, Mr. Lan?inskas (on the right) met for a handover meeting earlier in January in Brussels, Belgium with our previous Head of Mission, Kauko Aaaltomaa (left) and the Civilian Operations Commander, Stefano Tomat (middle).

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SOURCE European External Action