Is Maritime Piracy Coming to an End in the African Horn?

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After the collapse of the Somali central government in 1991, the coasts of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden became breeding grounds for vicious maritime pirates despite joint international naval operations. Many analysts and even powerful governments whose merchant fleets fell victim to piracy and whose navies took part in the maritime endeavors meant to cleanse the Indian Ocean and Red Sea shipping lanes from the piracy menace saw the solution in the stabilization of Somalia. But that theory has been proven wrong by the navies of Malaysia and South Korea after lightning speed assaults carried out by the two nations' naval commandos successfully released two ships and their crew that had been held hostage by Somali pirates in the waters off the coasts of Somalia.

As a result of the maritime blitzkrieg conducted by the forces of the two Asia-Pacific nations, several pirates died during fire exchanges while a dozen surrendered and now await trial in Kuala Lumpur and Seoul respectively. In the meantime, the use of hard power as opposed to the soft power tactics employed by the commanders of the multi-national force in the past seem to be bearing fruit.

Recently, the media was abuzz with a French envoy's theorization that piracy elimination in Somalia depends on the capture of twelve powerful tribal elders who have been suspected of being behind the operation. Killing or apprehending the said piracy chieftains will only increase piracy activities because there are many unemployed elders and youth willing to sacrifice their lives to fill the vacuum.

It is preposterous and utterly outrageous to use private armies or mercenaries to fight piracy as previously envisaged by the current weak Somali transitional government. Piracy can be eliminated off the coasts of Somalia indefinitely only if the international community implements long-term concrete strategies in place.

Pirates Struggle for Survival

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Piracy in the Horn of Africa continues to be a menace for international maritime shipping. Day by day pirates are coming up with novel tactics; they are acquiring modern weapons; they are purchasing sophisticated gadgets from the international markets; they have learned to cover thousands of miles away from home; their long hands have reached distant coastal waters; they have the capabilities of evading detection by the combined maritime task force.

According to Ecoterra International, over two-hundred sailors of various nationalities and over a dozen merchant ships flying assortments of flags of convenience remain in pirate hands along Somalia’s dreaded and ungovernable coastline. Somalia has a coastline measuring 3,333 km that is impossible to police.

Piracy has made many poor and disheveled men millionaires overnight. Men who once lived on the fringes of beggary now enjoy national limelight as they crisscross lawless Somalia with ease by riding in exotic luxurious cars protected by militias armed to the teeth. On the international level, they have the convenience of executive suits and arranged valets. They dine around manicured lawns while chuckling with men of like caliber.

Piracy masterminds are intellectually brainy; they keep low profile; and they are known to keep with the times. Pirate executives own fishing trawlers; they are worth millions of dollars; and they own shares in stocks and fishing factories. Many are polygamous, live in palatial homes, and send their children to expensive schools, colleges, and universities.

The piracy business employs over ten-thousand people ranging from those who maintain the dangerous deep-sea operations to those who guard and feed the sailors while ransom negotiations continue. An intricate operation exists between the bookkeepers, accountants, restaurateurs and shop-owners responsible for the provision of daily supplies.

The abundance of mind-altering drugs like qaad (Catha educlis) and amphetamines make the continuation of piracy a straightforward adventure. As long as the lawlessness in Somalia continues and as long as these two drugs are available for pirate consumption, endurance in long-distance travel, energy and drive, speed and aggression, sleeplessness and loquacity, will remain the driving factors in future piracy-related activities.

Act now on Somali Piracy

Last week, the commander of the Indian Navy warship Instabar reported that they had sunk a suspected Somali pirate ship that fired on them. However, that information has been disputed after it was found the ship that was sunk was not a pirate ship but a Thai fishing trawler. This incident will obviously cause strained relationship between the two Asian nations.

The coasts of the Horn of African nation of Somalia has become a hot spot for pirates who have so far hijacked over a dozen merchant ships since the beginning of this year. The international maritime trade along the Red Sea has been disrupted and flow of oil reduced since pirates started wrecking havoc on the free movement of maritime cargo. As reported by media houses, Somali pirates have secured over $150m from ransom paid by owners of hijacked vessels.

With dozens of western navies around Somali coasts including those of Russia, India, Malaysia and others, still, the Red Sea's major strategic shipping lanes remain volatile. Formerly, oil tankers and other cargo ships from the Middle East destined for Europe and North America and other parts of the world used to pass through the strategic Suez Canal because the Suez Canal alleviated the long and torturous ocean voyage around the southern tip of Africa.

The continued hijacking of ships along this route and the demand for ransom by Somalia's heavily armed and well organized maritime crime syndicate will reduce movement of ocean liners through the Suez and will tremendously set an economic obstacle for the Egyptian government and for the rest of the world in the near future.

Just last week, a Saudi Arabian supertanker carrying 2m barrels worth $100m was seized off the coast of Somalia and is now being held hostage by Somali pirates who are demanding $15m ransom. MV Sirius, as it is called, the Saudi Arabian supertanker is said to be five times the size of an aircraft carrier.

While the areas along the Somali coasts ruled by these pirates continue to expand and thrive, the rest of the world is experiencing dwindling oil supplies and shortage of other materials in high demand. A few of the correspondents that had access to pirate-held territories have reported seeing massive new infrastructures including gigantic mansions and sprawling neighborhoods, brand new luxury cars, thriving businesses, uninterrupted weddings, and convoys of newly purchased 'technicals'-anti-aircraft mounted wagons.

With the world eyes on the falling global economy, election euphoria in the U.S., and the war against terrorism, the poor Somali nation continues to deteriorate day by day. Undoubtedly, global inattention of piracy will strengthen pirate activities and perhaps create a new cold war phenomenon. Surreptitious military activities along the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea by major powers could lead to a permanent blockade of the Suez Canal.

On the other hand, the presence of the Russian Navy and her allies along the Eastern rim of the African coast and its continued expansion in the Caribbean Sea could open a power struggle in the not so distant future. The expected naval exercises between Hugo Chavez's Venezuelan forces and the visiting Russian Navy warship is already raising eyebrows that could open old wounds.

Somalia's Transitional Federal Government formed in Kenya by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is already in tatters and on the verge of collapse as the powerful Al-Shabab flexes its muscles ready to deliver the last decisive blows. Somalia's President Colonel Abdullahi Ahmed and his Prime Minister remain at loggerheads while Somali parliamentarians remain stranded in Kenya.

The African Union has failed to meet its expectations as the peacekeeping troops destined for Somalia remain elusive. The withdrawal of Ethiopian troops from Somali soil as stipulated by the Djibouti charter remain to be seen. The few nations that have peace keeping troops in Somalia will have no other option but embark on troop withdrawals if measures are not taken to reinforce their overstretched peace keeping missions in the city of Mogadishu.

Tribal power jostling has been the major obstacle to Somali peace and stability since the collapse of the military junta in 1991. The over dozen reconciliation conferences held by the international community have all ended in fiasco and disastrously failed to materialize.

Therefore, what is now elusive is a concerted global community effort to stabilize Somalia. It is in the interest of the international community to take drastic action to destabilize international piracy and bring the perpetrators of genocide in Somalia to book.

An-all out War Against Piracy in the Horn

Since her capture by a dozen well-armed pirates a few weeks ago off the coast of Somalia, the Ukrainian cargo ship MV Faina remains guarded on all fronts by a squadron of foreign navies each there to safeguard the dangerous cargo of ex-Soviet era T-72 tanks, rocket launchers, and thousands of ammunition whose destination remain a mystery. Because Somalia is perceived by the West as a haven for terrorists and their sympathizers, caution is being taken to ensure these dangerous cargo falls not onto the hands of terrorists.

The man who blew the whistle as far away as Kilindini in Mombasa, Andrew Mwangura, has been released on bail by a Kenyan judge a few days ago. Mwanguara's only crime is that he let the worms out of the can and revealed to the world what was expected to have been probably a top state secret. As head of the Sea farers Association, Mwangura carved out for himself a world grounded in secrecy. He has been a well known negotiator and well informed about the underworld of piracy in this part of the world. The claim by the Kenya Police that he was in possession of four rolls of Marijuana at the time of his arrest, has left many Kenyans laughing for weeks. It is common for the Kenya Police to frame whoever is in their list for eradication. One of the most corrupt nations in the world, Kenya's image in the world continues to dwindle drastically. What they want to tell you is that, Mwangura did not speak his mind freely, but was made loquacious by the puff of Cannabis sativa retrieved from his pockets.

Right now, Somalia's Red Sea coast has become a trouble spot where friends and foes feel it is time they join hands and rub bows so as to defend the world's oil energy passageway at a time when every nation is experiencing the worst economic gloom. Despite demanding $35 million at the initial hijack of the ship, the pirates have softened their stance and now demand a staggering $8 million ransom. Even as the world's most sophisticated navies gather in this dangerous waters of the Horn to deter further oil spill and energy hijack, what is being relayed by the media is nerve cracking: a couple ships have become victims while all eyes were turned on MV Faina.

Never have so many ships from an amalgamation of nations with differing ideologies and philosophical foundations gathered at a single spot since the end of the Cold War. While the nations of NATO have just announced that they will be sending a flotilla, the Russians, Kenyans, Malaysians, South African, and the Spanish have also embarked on the same efforts and level. Thus, the Horn of Africa will undoubtedly experience the greatest naval concentration of the century. Aircraft Carriers, Cruisers, Destroyers, Frigates, Submarines, Auxiliaries, Mine Sweepers, Mine Layers, and Corvettes of all makes will perhaps converge sooner or later to clean the Red Sea of the most monotonous pirates of the 21st century.

For Ali Sugule, the pirates' spokesman and his henchmen, there is a shadow of doubt whether the allies of the French commandos who wrecked havoc on your pirate cousins a few months ago, will ever fulfill any promise and deliver a suitcase containing $8 million without a thorough fight. Finally, after the dust settles, navies from all walks of life will eventually regroup to have naval exercises of the century where pirates once ruled undisturbed.

My best bet is that these navies will turn their radars on to the west coast of Africa where Africa's giant, Nigeria, remains a victim of piracy that has failed to grab international attention after Somalia is cleaned of piracy. A nation that has been at the mercy of dreaded generals since independence, Nigeria, a nation of over 100 million people, should not be left to suffer the pains that had Somalia capture international media the past few years.