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Somalia needs navy force to confront pirates: minister
Washington (AFP) April 20, 2009 The best way to combat piracy off Somalia is to create a national naval force financed by international aid in the impoverished east African nation, a Somali government minister said Monday. The solution for battling pirates lies in "helping the Somali government create naval forces to face this criminal operation," Somali Minister for Planning and International Cooperation Abdirahman Abdishakuur told the US government's Middle East satellite network Alhurra Television. Somali naval forces would "need training and support to be equipped and ready to carry out operations at sea," Abdishakuur said. "We, as a government of national unity, are trying to stop these operations and promote peace and security in Somalia, but we need the assistance of the international community," he added. The pirates who continue brazen attacks on vessels off the Horn of Africa feed off Somalia's internal chaos, where close to two decades of war and lawlessness have made piracy one of the few viable businesses. Some two dozen international ships -- operating under US, EU and NATO commands -- patrol the seas off Somalia. More than 150 suspected pirates were arrested in the Gulf of Aden last year. Pirate attacks soared 200 percent compared to 2007, with more than 130 merchant ships assaulted, according to the International Maritime Bureau. Representatives of 24 nations are to meet next month in New York to look at legal measures to fight the crime wave. "The international community has spent millions of dollars to combat piracy," noted Abdishakuur. "If they spend 10 percent of what they spend at sea to help the Somali government, they will be able to put an end to these operations." Aside from a national naval force, the minister said, the only viable way to combat piracy is to fight economic conditions on land. The youths getting involved with piracy are all unemployed, and so "there is no alternative for them but to resort to these criminal activities. "We should provide the youth with work and education opportunities to bring them back to the community and public life," said Abdishakuur. Piracy is expected to be a key issue when donors to Somalia meet on Thursday in Brussels. US President Barack Obama's administration has pledged to step up the piracy fight following the capture of a US cargo ship earlier this month. US Navy snipers ended the standoff by rescuing captain Richard Phillips and shooting dead three pirates. US forces captured a fourth pirate, a teenager, who will reportedly go on trial in New York. Share This Article With Planet Earth
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NATO warships foil pirate attack
Nairobi (AFP) April 19, 2009NATO warships foiled a pirate attack on a Norwegian tanker, catching up with the would-be hijackers on Sunday after a seven-hour pursuit. |
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