Somalia’s Wall Street

 

The pirates of Somalia are at it again. Well, more. They’ve been up to their piratical enterprises since the early 90s when their country’s government fell apart. Originally, apparently, they began as a vigilante coast guard protecting their off-shore rights from tuna poachers and ocean dumpers. And then, well, the pirating got underway in earnest and is now generating $100 million a year. It’s a profession, like hedge funding management.

What’s brought the situation to a head is that pirates seized a Ukrainian ship flying under a Belize flag headed for Mobasa. The ship was carrying 33 tanks and other weapons. Now quickly, a couple of obvious questions arise, like What is the Ukraine doing sending tanks to Kenya? What is Kenya doing wasting its precious resources buying tanks? Another report says the cargo was headed for the Sudan, and we know what they would do with such weapons.

Russia is unhappy with the pirating and has announced that they are sending ships for anti-piracy patrols off the Somalia coast to protect Russian citizens and ships. Already three warships, including an American destroyer, have cosy’d up to the freighter, which the pirates say they will release for a mere $20 million. A good deal, no doubt, since last week they were asking $35 million.

Whatever the price, an assault on the ship could be explosive, which explains the lack of intervention so far. But there seems to be some trouble aboard anyway, perhaps piratical internecine struggles; three of the hijackers were reported shot this morning.

The world put an end to piracy on the high seas more than a century ago when the governments of the civilized nations agreed to eliminate all havens for pirates. It’s time for the United Nations to intervene, end this lawlessness in the sea lanes, and bring stability to the horror that has entrenched itself in Somalia.

And that’s SetonnoteS...I’m Tony Seton.

 

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