Causes of the Increase in Somali-led Piracy off the Horn of Africa during the Past 5 Years - Term Paper Example

Causes of the increase in Somali-led piracy off the Horn of Africa during the past 5 years We are surrounded by warships and don’t have time to talk. Please pray for us.” —One Somali Pirate) (Logan, 2009) Introduction/Background 1. “The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) reports that, in 2010, over 1,016 crew members on dozens of hijacked vessels were taken hostage by Somali pirates. Most were released following ransom negotiations, but at least 13 were injured and eight killed” (Ploch et al, 2011, p.1). The ships which suffered attack from Somali pirates include American, British, Australian and Indian. Somalia’s eastern coastal areas and Gulf of Aden were the major locations which were selected by Somali pirates for conducting their operations. For the last few years, the threats from the pirates increasing day by day even though international community and UN Security Council have strengthened the counter measures in the Somali coastal areas. Patrolling in the Somali coastal areas have been strengthened by multinational naval force including warships from America, Britain, India and Australia. Anthony Bergin, Director of Research Programs for the Australian Strategic Policy, arguing that the protection of international shipping is of high strategic interest to Australia. The Gulf of Aden is of vital strategic importance, with more than 20,000 vessels travelling between Europe and the Middle East, Asia and Australia passing through the waterway every year (Liss, 2009). 2. According to the defense correspondent of Sydney Moring Herald, Jonathan Pearlman, “Australia is looking to deploy a warship to act against pirates off the coast of Somalia after winding down operations to protect Iraqs oil terminals” (Pearlman, 2009). According to Australian Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston “Australian ships and passengers regularly travelled through the waters off the coast of Somalia and benefited from the enhanced security provided by the multinational anti-piracy force” (Pearlman, 2009). 3. “The annual cost of piracy to the global economy ranges between $7 and $12 billion, by some estimates” (Ploch et al, 2011, p.ii). According to certain reports by international maritime organization, piracy is causing big threat to the lives of the people and immense damages to the shipment activities through Somali coast. Shipping cost has been increased drastically since insurance companies forced to increase the premium amount of the shipment goods insured and transported through this region. There are many reasons cited for the increasing piracy in the Somali coastal region. This paper analyses major causes of the increase in Somali-led piracy off the Horn of Africa during the past 5 years. Causes of increase in Somali-led Piracy during the past five years According to the final report of the experts group convened in 2008 by the U.N. Special Representative to Somalia, “poverty, lack of employment, environmental hardship, pitifully low incomes, reduction of pastoralist and maritime resources due to drought and illegal fishing and a volatile security and political situation all contribute to the rise and continuance of piracy in Somalia (Ploch et al, 2011, p.6). 4. Somalia is an underdeveloped country and therefore one would clearly attribute the reasons related to poverty to the increased Somali-led piracy off the Horn of Africa. The per capita income of the Somali people is extremely low when we compare it with the global standards. “According to the 2008 statistics, per capita income of Somali people was $ 600 whereas that of America was $ 47000”(Per Capita Income, 2011). It is evident from these statistics that majority of the Somali people are living in drastic conditions. Somalia is a country with less natural resources and therefore they forced to engage in antisocial activities. However, it should be noted that the pirate activities increased a lot during the last five years even though poverty is Somalia has hundreds of years of history. Somalia has been in a persistent anarchic state since 1991, when General Mohamed Siad Barre was overthrown and the country descended into clan-based civil war for control of the government. Eventually, the Somali state collapsed, destroying social services and the security-sector institutions that might have protected the country, its resources, and its citizens against internal and external threats (Warner, n. d, p.62). 5. One of the major reasons cited for the increased pirate activities in Somali sea coast in the last five years is the second phase of the Somali Civil War at the beginning of twenty-first century. Second civil war caused immense poverty in Somalia and the survival was extremely difficult. Governance in Somalia has been destroyed completely as a result of the second phase of civil war. The present administration holds only namesake power and it has no control at all in the activities going on inside country. Moreover many of the Somalians are of the view that the government has no legal or moral authority to restrict the illegal activities of the public because of the failure of the administration in providing or ensuring adequate food, clothing and shelter to the public. The current government seems to be giving silent permission to the illegal activities of the Somali people. According to Warner (n.d), “the lack of governance and human security created a permissive environment on land and at sea that offered Somalis not only incentives to participate in criminal enterprises but also sanctuaries from which to do so” Warner, n.d, p.2). That is why international community forced to ensure enough protection to the ships going across the Somali coastal region. 6. Another major reason for the increased pirate activities in the Somalian coastal areas is the doubt about the dumping of nuclear waste and other toxic wastes in the Somalian coastal areas by developed countries. Fishing was one of the major revenue sources for many of the Somali people; however at present revenue from fishing seems to be decreasing because of the destruction of marine wealth near the Somali regions. Somali people are of the view that international community, especially the developed countries are dumping toxic waste materials in their territories and destroying their one and only revenue source. Somali pirates interviewed by the international media frequently link their pirate activities to trends such as illegal fishing and dumping in Somali waters that have emerged as the country has lost its ability to patrol its waters over time. While these explanations may mask the opportunistic piracy of some, reports suggest that illegal fishing and dumping have disrupted Somalia’s coastal economy. Recent estimates by the United Nations suggest that Somalia may lose $95 million annually to illegal fishing (Ploch et al, 2011, p.9). 7. Somalian pirates do believe that there is nothing wrong in looting the wealth from ships passing through their territories since international community is destroying their natural wealth one way or other. They are of the view that developed countries are not only exploiting their wealth but also destroying it and therefore their activities can be justified. 8. It should be noted that majority of the ships attacked by the Somali pirates in recent times were belonged to countries like America, India, Britain, Australia, etc. All these countries are either nuclear powers or members of nuclear supplier groups. Australia is one of the major raw material providers for many of the prominent nuclear powers in the world. Somali pirates believe that both; nuclear powers nuclear suppliers have equal responsibilities in dumping nuclear waste in their territories. In other words, Australian ships will be definitely targeted by these pirates if any of them travel through Somalia’s coastal areas or Gulf of Aden. Cultural reasons also were suspected for the increased piracy in Somalian or African region for the last five years. “Four pirates are dead and 15 are in custody, but not before they killed four Americans in the bloodiest piracy incident in recent history, the commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command told reporters in a conference call, Feb. 22” (War on terror news, 2011). 9. In majority of the other piracy incidents, Somali pirates never tried to kill the hostages, once their demands were accepted. However, they have not shown any mercy towards American hostages which clearly indicate that they are adopting a different strategy towards American hostages. Many people believe that current war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan has some connections with the hostile behaviour of these sea robbers towards Americans. It should be noted that majority of the Somalians are Muslims. 10. According to Warner (n.d), “current estimates state that more than three hundred million dollars’ worth of fish is stolen each year from Somali waters”(Warner, n. d, p.62). Somalia does not have enough advanced machineries or equipment to exploit their sea wealth. “Some allege that the absence of Somali coastal security authorities has allowed illegal international fishing and maritime dumping to go unchecked, which in turn has undermined coastal communities’ economic prospects, providing economic or political motivation to some pirates” (Ploch et al, 2011, p.ii). Najad Abdullahi (2011) also expressed similar views as expressed by Ploch et al. Somali pirates have accused European firms of dumping toxic waste off the Somali coast and are demanding an $8m ransom for the return of a Ukranian ship they captured, saying the money will go towards cleaning up the waste. The ransom demand is a means of "reacting to the toxic waste that has been continually dumped on the shores of our country for nearly 20 years", Januna Ali Jama, a spokesman for the pirates, based in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland, said (Abdullahi, 2011). 11. Since Somalia has not much armed forces, it is difficult for them to protect their natural resources. Somalia’s coast guards don’t have necessary equipment to protect their sea wealth from the intrusions of foreigners. Foreigners exploit this weakness of Somalia in protecting their sea wealth to their own advantages. More than 70% of the Somali public believe that piracy can be justified since international community is not respecting the sovereignty of their country. 12. “In Somalia, a country of grinding poverty and internal chaos, the pirate economy is booming” (Piracy at Sea, 2011). It should be noted that Somalia’s economy has grown considerably as a result of the piracy activities of the pirates. The living standards of the Somali people increased considerably over the last five years which forced more people to participate in the piracy activities. Somalians are of the view that it is difficult for them to develop properly in a straight forward manner. They know very well that piracy is against all the existing international laws. However, they have no other go at present which forced many of the Somalians to actively participate in looting activities. 13. Another major reason for increased piracy during last five years is the awareness of Somali pirates that it is difficult for international community to take effective anti-piracy measures. The land and sea geography of Somalia cannot be accessed easily by the anti-piracy forces. It is easy for the Somali sea robbers to escape from the hands of the anti-piracy forces because of their better awareness about the region. Majority of the shipping companies are ready to pay the amount asked by the sea robbers in order to regain their ship and its employees. Conclusions 14. Second phase of civil war at the beginning of twenty first century caused tremendous damages to Somalia’s ambitions to progress just like other countries. As result of this civil war, governance in Somalia has been destroyed completely. Lack of governance forced the people in Somalia to engage in any kind of activities as they like. They don’t bother about the legality or morality of their actions at present since survival in Somalia is extremely difficult at present. 15. Foreigners are dumping toxic waste materials in Somalian coastal regions which resulted in the destruction of sea wealth near Somalia’s coastal areas. Moreover, foreigners are robbing the sea wealth of Somalia using advanced equipment because of the lack of abilities of Somalia in protecting their territories. Majority of the Somalians believe that piracy is the only way for them to take something in return to the sea wealth destroyed and robbed by foreigners. As in the case of other countries in Africa, poverty, unemployment and poor living standards in Somalia forced the public to engage in activities without much worry about the legality or morality of it. The current war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan could be another reason for the increased piracy activity by the Somali sea robbers over the last five years. References 1. Abdullahi N (2011). Toxic waste behind Somali piracy. [Online] Available at: hthttp://www.ascertainthetruth.com/att/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=296:toxic-waste-behind-somali-piracy&catid=56:international-war-on-terror&Itemid=109 [Accessed on 16 October 2011] 2. Admiral Provides Details of Somali Piracy Killings (2011). War on terror news. February 22, 2011. [Online] Available at: http://waronterrornews.typepad.com/home/2011/02/admiral-provides-details-of-somali-piracy-killings-.html [Accessed on 16 October 2011] 3. Liss C (2009). Ending Somalian piracy: pitfalls and possibilities of Australian naval intervention and long-term human security policy initiatives. Austral Policy Forum 09-2A, 29 January 2009. [Online] Available at: http://www.nautilus.org/publications/essays/apsnet/policy-forum/2009/somalian-piracy-liss [Accessed on 16 October 2011] 4. Logan B (2009). Quote of the Day — One Somali Pirate. [Online] Available at: http://blogan.net/blog/2009/04/09/quote-of-the-day-one-somali-pirate/ [Accessed on 16 October 2011] 5. Ploch L, Blanchard CM, O’Rourke R, Mason RC and King RO (2011). Piracy off the Horn of Africa. Congressional Research Service. April 27, 2011. 6. Per Capita Income (2011). [Online] Available at: http://siakhenn.tripod.com/capita.html [Accessed on 16 October 2011] 7. Piracy at Sea (2011). The New York Times. Sunday, October 16, 2011 8. Pearlman J (2009). Australia to take on Somali pirates. The Sydney Morning Herald. January 9, 2009. 9. Warner LA (2010). PIECES OF EIGHT: An Appraisal of U.S. Counterpiracy Options in the Horn of Africa. Naval War College Review, Spring 2010, Vol. 63, No. 2 Read More