Piracy off the coast of Somalia has more than doubled in 2008 and
threatens to disrupt international trade and could potentially become a
weapon of international terrorism, says a new Chatham House paper.
Pirates are regularly demanding and receiving million-dollar ransom
payments and their operations are become increasingly sophisticated.
The pirates have improved their equipment and now use GPS systems and
satellite phones giving them a greater ability to capture potential
targets.
'Piracy in Somalia: Threatening Global Trade, Feeding Local Wars'
says the danger of piracy could mean shipping is forced away from the
Gulf of Aden into the longer route to Europe and North America. The
extra weeks of travel and fuel consumption could have a major impact on
oil and commodity prices.
The paper also argues that Somali pirates could become agents of
international terrorist networks. Already money from ransoms is helping
to pay for the war in Somalia, including funds to the US terror-listed
Al-Shabaab. In a region that saw the attacks on the USS Cole, the
possibility of seaborne terrorism should be taken seriously.
As a result of piracy, the World Food Programme (WFP) has been
forced to temporarily suspend food deliveries to drought-stricken
Somalia. Canada is now escorting WFP deliveries but there are no plans
in place to replace their escort when it ends later this year.
In this paper, Roger Middleton, outlines a number of options
available to the international community to reduce the risks of piracy
but stresses that ignoring the problem is not one of them. Only a
political solution in Somalia offers a long-term solution to piracy.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Read Piracy in Somalia: Threatening Global Trade, Feeding Local Wars.
Roger Middleton is a consultant researcher working for the Africa Programme
at Chatham House. He specializes in the politics of the Horn of Africa,
African Peace and Security and Africa's relations with the EU.
Roger Middleton is available for interview. Mobile: +44 (0) 7886 927 694
Contact:
Nicola Norton
Media Relations Manager
+44 (0) 20 7957 5739
+44 (0) 7917 757 528
nnorton@chathamhouse.org.uk
