19/09/2019 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 19 September, Christopher Reynolds from Ireland was appointed Head of the EU capacity building mission EUCAP Somalia. Deputy Head of Mission and Chief of Staff since January 2019, he will take over from Maria-Cristina Stepanescu (Romania), who took up her post on 1 September 2016. Mr Reynolds was also the mission’s Head of Operations in 2016 and 2017. EUCAP Somalia, whose mandate runs until 31 December 2020, aims to enhance Somalia's maritime civilian law enforcement capacity through supporting the Somali authorities in developing the necessary legislation, strengthening the criminal justice chain in the maritime domain, and providing training and equipment (see EUROPE 12156/32). It also provides advice to the Somalia Ministry of internal security and to the police. The 111-member mission is based in Mogadishu and has offices in Garowe and Hargeisa. (CG)