Pirates
of the Horn of Africa
by: The Editor, November 17,
2005
In recent weeks, attacks on ships off the cost of Somalia have
increased dramatically. Ships recently attached have included cruise
ships, bulk carriers, cargo ships, and ships delivering United Nations
food aid to impoverished Somalis. Pirates using heavy machine guns,
rocket-propelled grenades, and even handguns have attacked these ships,
and when successful, held the ships’ kidnapped crew as hostages for
ransom.
The situation off the coast of Somalia, a country with one of Africa’s
longest coasts, is rapidly deteriorating. And the nascent government of
President Abdullahi Yusuf has yet to establish sufficient control to
rein in the pirates.
The pirates operating off the coast of Somalia represent a direct
threat to Somalia’s future and the future of the sub-region. The food
aid and trade delivered by many of the ships that are under attack by
these pirates are needed by the impoverished and war ravaged country.
The activities of these criminals, if continued unchecked, have the
potential to discourage most ship operators from the waters of Somalia.
This will have the disastrous effect of limiting already scares food
supply and trade.
The activities of these pirates also represent a threat to the region.
The pirates’ continued presence will adversely affect conditions in
Somalia and slow any return to normalcy. This will, in turn, prevent
Somalia from becoming a net contributor to the region and the world. By
discouraging ships from traveling along the East African coast near
Somalia, the region runs the risk of ships bypassing it entirely as the
ship operators seek to avoid the pirates. Such tactics, if adopted by
ship operators, will have significant financial repercussions for
countries in the region.
These pirates must be stopped immediately.
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