Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Piracy around the Horn of Africa

2009; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 21; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/10163270903298967

1941-4641

Joshua Ho,

Global Maritime and Colonial Histories

Abstract Piracy around the Horn of Africa has risen to a level serious enough for the international community to take concerted action to secure an international sea lane. However, the efforts so far have been initiated mainly by the international community while regional efforts are only just beginning. In the short term, more action will have to be taken at the operational level, for example dispatching more ships and integrating the operations of ships already deployed to the area. In the longer term, the root causes of piracy and the grievances of the Somali people have to be addressed. In particular, there is a need to restore law and order in Somalia by supporting moderate leaders in their attempts to create a representative government. Notes 1. World Bank, "Somalia: Economic Developments," World Bank Country Brief, September 2008, http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL?COUNTRIES/AFRICAEXT/SOMALIAEXTN/0,,menuPK:367675~pagePK:141132~piPK:141107~theSitePK:367665,00.html (accessed November 21, 2008). See also U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, "Economy: Somalia," CIA World Factbook, March 19, 2009, http://www.cia.gov./library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/so.html (accessed March 20, 2009). 2. World Food Programme, "Somalia: Overview," WFP Country Brief, 2009, http://www.wfp.org/countries/somalia (accessed November 21, 2008). 3. World Bank, "Somalia." 4. Robyn Hunter, "Somali Pirates Living the High Life," BBC News, October 28, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7650415.stm (accessed November 20, 2008). 5. Mohamed Amiin Adow, "Ethiopian Troops Begin Somali Withdrawal," CNN.com, January 13, 2009, http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/01/13/ethiopia.somalia/index.html (accessed January 14, 2009). 6. CNN.com, "Somali PM: President Can't Fire Me," CNN.com, December 14, 2008, http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/12/14/somalia.politics/index.html (accessed December 15, 2008). 7. Shabelle Media Network, "Somalia: Scholars Skeptical About Recent Djibouti Agreement," Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu), June 13, 2008. 8. NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, "Foreign Fishery Developments: Somali Fishing Industry has Potential for Growth," Marine Fisheries Review 44, no. 12 (December 1982): 25–28, http://spo.nmfs.noaa.gov/mfr4412/mfr44124.pdf (accessed August 2, 2008). 9. Buzzle.com, "Ecoterra Reports on the UN/Kenya Conference on Piracy," Buzzle.com, December 15, 2008, http://www.buzzle.com/articles/ecoterra-reports-on-the-un-kenya-conference-on-piracy.html (accessed December 16, 2008). 10. Bill Varner, "Chasing Pirates into Somali Territory Gets Approval from UN," Bloomberg.com, December 16, 2008, http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20670001&refer=home&sid=aawFZI.VMc_o&refer+home# (accessed December 17, 2008). 11. ICC International Maritime Bureau, Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships: Annual Report, 2008 (London: ICC IMB, 2009). 12. ICC International Maritime Bureau, Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships: Report for the Period 1 January – 30 June 2009 (London: ICC IMB, 2009). 13. Teo Cheng Wee, "The Pirate Gulf; The Gulf of Aden Accounts for a Third of All Reported Piracy Worldwide," Straits Times, December 14, 2008. 14. David McKenzie, "Arms Ship's Owners Strike Deal with Pirates," CNN.com, November 30, 2008, http://www.edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/11/30/pirates.ship.deal/index.html (accessed December 1, 2008). 15. Jeffrey Gettleman, "Somalia's Pirates Flourish in a Lawless Nation," New York Times, October 31, 2008. 16. Kim Sengupta and Daniel Howden, "Pirates: the $80 million Gulf Connection," The Independent, April 21, 2009, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/pirates-the-80m-gulf-connection-1671657.html (accessed July 13, 2009). See also David Osler, "Iranians and Pakistanis Among Somali Pirates," Lloyd's List, June 2, 2009, http://www.lloydslist.com/ll/news/viewArticle.htm?articleId=20017658165 (accessed July 13, 2009). 17. Hunter, "Somali Pirates." 18. Mohamed Olad Hassan and Elizabeth Kennedy, "Somali Pirates Transform Villages into Boom Towns," Associated Press, November 19, 2008 http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2008/11/19/2128072-somali-pirates-transform-villages-into-boomtowns (accessed November 20, 2008). 19. Martin Plaut, "Pirates 'Working with Islamists,'", BBC News, November 19, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/in_depth/7737375.stm (accessed November 20, 2008). 20. The Age, "Tensions Grow as Islamist Fighters Pledge to Attack Somali Pirates," The Age, November 25, 2008, http://www.theage.com/action/printArticle?id=300818 (accessed November 26, 2008). 21. Xan Rice and Lee Glendinning, "Pirates Anchor Hijacked Supertanker off Somalia Coast," The Guardian, November 18, 2008, http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/18/somalia-oil (accessed November 19, 2008). 22. Hunter, "Somali Pirates." 23. B. Raman, "Rules of Engagement in Maritime Counter-Terrorism & Counter-Piracy," South Asia Analysis Group International Terrorism Monitor Paper No. 469, November 20, 2008, http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/papers30/paper2930.html (accessed November 21, 2008). 24. Hunter, "Somali Pirates." 25. BBC News, "Somali Pirates Killed 'Legally,'" BBC News, December 19, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/7791236.stm (accessed December 22, 2008). 26. The Star.com, "Somali Pirates get Help from Expats in Canada," The Star.com, December 11, 2008, http://www.thestar.com/News/World/article/552023 (accessed December 12, 2008). 27. Lloyd's List, "Navy Patrols Fail to Deter Gulf of Aden Hijacking," Lloyd's List, February 23, 2009, http://lloydslist.com/ll/news/navy-patrols-fail-to-deter-gulf-of-aden-hijacking/20017620772.htm (accessed February 24, 2008). 28. Teo Cheng Wee, "The Pirate Gulf." 29. Nick Wadhams, "Pirates in Standoff Threaten Food Aid, Global Shipping," National Geographic News, October 10, 2008, http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/10/081010-somalia-pirates.html (accessed October 13, 2008). 30. Sandra Jontz, "Civilian Ship Repurposed to Help Anti-Piracy Effort," Stars and Stripes, February 10, 2009, http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=60602 (accessed February 11, 2009). 31. Straits Times, "Capture of Tanker a New Security Dimension," Straits Times, November 19, 2008. 32. Straits Times, "Pirates Free Saudi Tanker for US$3m," Straits Times, January 10, 2009, C16. 33. Edmund Sanders and Julian E. Barnes, "Somali Pirates Hold U.S. Captain," Los Angeles Times, April 9, 2009, http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-somali-pirates9-2009apr09,0,4104857.story (accessed July 14, 2009). 34. Wadhams, "Pirates in Standoff." 35. Miles Costello, "Shipping Insurance Costs Soar with Piracy Surge Off Somalia," The Times, September 11, 2008, http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/banking_and_finance/article4727372.ece (accessed September 12, 2008). 36. Shuli Sudderuddin and Debbie Yong, "It's a Terrible Time to be a Seaman; the Nature of Piracy has Changed Vastly these Past Three Years, becoming Frighteningly Violent," Straits Times, November 23 2008. 37. Paulo Prada and Alex Roth, "The Struggle to Bring Pirates to Justice," Wall Street Journal Asia, December 15, 2008, http://66.114.70.144/cgi-bin/terjem.rex?WSJ_The_Struggle_To_Bring_Pirates_To_Justice-81215001 (accessed December 16, 2008). 38. Daniel Wallis, "Steel Ship Grabbed in New Pirate Strike," The Australian, November 26, 2008, http://www.theaustralian.new.com.au/story/0,25197,24709037-12377,00.html (accessed November 27, 2008). 39. B. Raman, "If Pirates Can Hijack an Oil Super-Tanker with Such Ease, So can Al Qaeda," South Asia Analysis Group International Terrorism Monitor Paper No. 468, November 19, 2008, http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/papers30/paper2929.html (accessed November 20, 2008). 40. The number of ships transiting the Suez Canal in January 2009 was recorded at 1,313 vessels. See ci-online, "Suez Transits Down 22 percent in January," ci-online, March 4, 2009, http://www.ci-online.co.uk/default.asp?URL=news/showNews.asp?News_ID=24329 (accessed March 5, 2009). 41. Jim Garamone and Petty Officer 2nd Class Corolla B, "Pakistani Admiral Takes Command of Regional Maritime Task Force," American Forces Press Service News Articles, April 24, 2006, http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=15376 (accessed March 6, 2009). 42. Combined Forces Maritime Component Public Affairs, "Coalition Naval Assets Challenge Hijackers on South Korean Motor Vessel," NAVY.mil, April 4, 2006, http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=22991 (accessed March 6, 2009). 43. Commander, Combined Maritime Forces Public Affairs, "Combined Task Force 150 Thwarts Criminal Activities," United States Africa Command News Article, September 29, 2008, http://www.africom.mil/getArticle.asp?art=2137 (accessed September 30, 2008) 44. American Forces Press Service, "Multinational Task Force Targets Pirates," American Forces Press Service, January 8, 2009, http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=52586 (accessed January 9, 2009). 45. Jermyn Chow, "SAF in Anti-Piracy Mission," Straits Times, February 13, 2009, http://www.straitstimes.com/print/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_337766.html (accessed February 16, 2009). 46. Channelnewsasia.com, "Australia Joins Fight Against Piracy Off Somalia," Channelnewsasia.com, May 29, 2009, http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/432542/1/.html. (accessed July 13, 2009). 47. North Atlantic Treaty Organization Factsheet, "Operation Allied Provider," North Atlantic Treaty Organization Factsheet, December 2, 2008, http://www.nato.int/issues/allied-provider/081202-allied-provider-factsheet-en.pdf (accessed December 3, 2008). 48. North Atlantic Treaty Organization News, "Counter-Piracy in the Gulf of Aden: Operation Allied Provider," North Atlantic Treaty Organization News, October 10, 2008, http://www.nato.int/issues/allied-provider/index.html (accessed October 13, 2008). 49. CNN.com, "EU to Launch First Anti-Piracy Operation," CNN.com, December 8, 2008, http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/12/08/pirates.somalia.warshipsm (accessed December 9, 2008). See also Nicholas Yong, "Nautica Gives Pirates the Slip in Gulf of Aden," Straits Times, December 21, 2008. 50. Bjoern H Seibert, "EU NAVFOR: Countering Piracy in Somali Waters," RUSI Commentary, 2008, http://www.rusi.org/go.php?structureID=S433A7E512CD1D&ref=C492691049A922 (accessed January 2, 2009). 51. RIA Novosti, "Russia to fight piracy off Somalia coast," RIA Novosti, September 23, 2008, http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080923/117048983.html (accessed September 24, 2008). 52. BBC News, "India to 'Step up Piracy Battle,'" BBC News, November 21, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7741287.stm (accessed November 24, 2008). See also Keith Wallis, "Indian Navy Could Boost Gulf of Aden Patrols," Lloyd's List, November 21, 2008, http://epaper.lloydslist.com/ll/news/indian-navy-could-boost-gulf-of-aden-patrols/20017592796.htm;jsessionid=50E22033070CB0B04E1C9EA606250218 (accessed November 24, 2008). 53. Straits Times, "Chinese Ships Head for Somalia," Straits Times, December 27, 2008, A20. 54. Reuters Africa, "Malaysia Helicopter Saves Ship from Somali Pirates," Reuters Africa, January 1, 2009, http://africa.reuters.com/top/news/usnJOE50003R.html (accessed January 2, 2009). 55. Xinhua News, "Iran to Send Two Warships to Somalia Coast Waters to Fight Pirates," Xinhua News, May 14, 2009, http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-05/14/content_11374865.htm (accessed July 13, 2009). 56. NHK World, "Coast Guard to Investigate Piracy off Somalia," NHK World, November 18, 2008. http://www.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/18_27.html (accessed November 19, 2008). 57. Japan Today, "Defense Chief to Order Antipiracy Mission to Somalia in Early March," Japan Today, February 9, 2009, http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/defense-chief-likely-to-order-antipiracy-mission-in-early-march (accessed February 10, 2009); see also Asahi Shimbun, "Planes to Join Anti-Piracy Mission," Asahi Shimbun, Apri1 8 2009, http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200904180059.html (accessed July 13, 2009). 58. Korea Herald, "S. Korea set to Conclude Legal Process for Sending Navy Ship to Somalia," Korea Herald, February 24, 2009, http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/02/23/200902230072.asp (accessed February 25, 2009). 59. Muhammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis, "Ecoterra – Somali Marine & Coastal Monitor – The Latest Piracy News off the Somali Coastland," American Chronicle, March 11, 2009, http://www.american.chronicle.com/articles/printFriendly/94058 (accessed March 12, 2009). 60. United Nations Security Council, "Security Council Decides States, Regional Organisations may Use 'All Necessary Means' to Fight Piracy Off the Somalia Coast for a 12-month period," UNSC 9514, December 2, 2008, http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/sc9514.doc.htm (accessed December 4, 2008). 61. S/RES/1844 (2008), United Nations Security Council Resolution 1844 (2008), November 20, 2008. 62. United Nations Security Council, "Security Council Decides." 63. United Nations Security Council, "Security Council Authorizes States to Use Land-Based Operations in Somalia, as Part of Fight against Piracy off Coast, Unanimously Adopting 1851 (2008)," UNSC 9541, December 16, 2008, http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/sc9541.doc.htm (accessed December 17, 2008). 64. United Nations Security Council, "Security Council Authorizes States to Use Land-Based Operations in Somalia, as Part of Fight against Piracy off Coast, Unanimously Adopting 1851 (2008)," UNSC 9541, December 16, 2008, http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/sc9541.doc.htm (accessed December 17, 2008). 65. United Nations Security Council, "Security Council Authorizes States to Use Land-Based Operations in Somalia, as Part of Fight against Piracy off Coast, Unanimously Adopting 1851 (2008)," UNSC 9541, December 16, 2008, http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/sc9541.doc.htm (accessed December 17, 2008). 66. Buzzle.com, "Ecoterra Reports." 67. United Nations Security Council, "Security Council Authorises." 68. Code of Conduct Concerning the Repression of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden, January 29, 2009. See also IMO Briefing 03, "High-Level Meeting in Djibouti Adopts a Code of Conduct to Repress Acts of Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships," IMO Briefing 03, January 30, 2009, http://www.imo.org/About/mainframe.asp?topic_id=1773&doc_id=10933 (accessed February 2, 2009). 69. IMO, "Revised Guidance on Combating Piracy Agreed by IMO Maritime Safety Committee: Maritime Safety Committee—86th session: 27 May–5 June 2009," IMO Press Briefing 23, June 17, 2009, http://www.imo.org/Home.asp?topic_id=1773&doc_id=11478 (accessed July 14, 2009). 70. Roger Middleton, "Pirates and How to Deal With Them," Chatham House Briefing Note, April 22, 2009, http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/files/13845_220409pirates_law.pdf (accessed July 13, 2009. 71. David Osler, "Armed Guards on Ships Could Raise Liability Issues," Lloyd's List, December 12, 2008, http://www.lloydslist.com/ll/news/sector/index.htm?sectorCode=Piracy (accessed December 15, 2008). 72. 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