What I learned from the Somali pirates

03 December 2008

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Aidan Hartley says that Somali piracy is very well-organised and efficient and is opposed publicly only by militant Muslims — who may yet seize power in Mogadishu

Behind the pirates are godfathers and investors from clans closely related to Somalia’s Western-backed president in Mogadishu, Abdullahi Yusuf. A veteran warlord with blood on his hands, Yusuf owes his life to a liver transplant from a British donor in a London hospital. Most of Yusuf’s lieutenants are ethnic Somalis who hold British or European Union passports. Western countries including Britain have given substantial funding to Yusuf’s forces, regarding him as an ally in the war on terror against the Islamist insurgents fighting his government.

Yusuf and his close circle hail from Puntland, Somalia’s north-eastern semi-autonomous region. Estimates are that at least six ministers in the Puntland government, which is allied to Yusuf, are involved with the pirates — together with two former police chiefs and sundry mayors. Puntland’s police forces were trained by the United Nations using British funding. But in some port towns pirate gangs are now paying police salaries. Puntland is the modern world’s first genuine pirate state.

Somali piracy has become extremely efficient, with ransom payments organised via lawyers in regional African capitals. Ex-SAS officers have been employed to deliver ransom payments in cash to the pirates on the high seas. My information is that the pirates behave like perfect gentlemen once the money is handed over and they always release the boats in good humour. For years, US Navy ships have skirmished with pirates and arrested them on the high seas. But in recent months I have heard repeated allegations that US Navy ships have enjoyed friendly relations with pirates off Puntland. In one story, pirates were invited aboard a US Navy ship for a cup of coffee and a smoke, while the Americans showed gang members national flags of ships that should be left alone.

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M

December 4th, 2008 6:57pm Report this comment

Just a question. You said that the private security on board jump overboard as soon as pirates are sighted. Is this because they are afraid of the pirates or because International Law ties them down so much that if they were to shoot the pirates then their civilian lives would be interrupted/would be punished?

PDL

December 5th, 2008 4:05pm Report this comment

Mr. Hartley, who has often been critical of "international development" projects, has negected to mention a rare example of success of donor funding. In the 1980's, the Danish government funded a boat-building project in Mogadishu which included setting up a small factory to fabricate fiberglass fishing boats from molds. These are the boats, not very big but virtually unsinkable, that venture far out into the Gulf of Aden to hunt their prey.

S.A.

December 6th, 2008 12:00am Report this comment

I came across your article in VF.COM, i was so stunned to see someone writing about the perils of my country, and the headline being in a major media outlet. Finally, i had no clue there was a reporter covering this. I am going to Somalia inshallah in 2010, that is if 1988 doesn't repeat itself. I attempted to raise funds for relief aid but no one in my community wanted to help, all because of tribal politics. So disheartening, a child is a child, it embarrasses me when Somalis shun each other because they believe one Qabil is better and one is sub- human. I plan to change that.

oliver

December 6th, 2008 5:24am Report this comment

SA good luck for the effort and I pray for you. Adrian, your articles are to the point and very educational to those who have no clue to the Somali misery and state-failure. Al-shabaab was founded by Somalis educated and indoctrinated in Saudi religious schools. Their leaders number not more than 200 active violent men but they got funding from rich Saudis. The west can easily counter that with its educated Somali Diaspora groups. A quarter-million Somalis now hold European, Canadian and America passports. Thousands of them are college graduates with degrees in every field. why not invest in them, repatriate them back to their homeland, promote them as the leaders since they understand democracy and individual freedom. Somalis shun extremism. they love music, sports and poetry. Appeal to the Somali poets in the process of peace too. I am sure if 5000 Somalis with western education went back to Somalia and become the mayors and government officials, anarchy and extremism would be history.

kiffa

December 6th, 2008 4:33pm Report this comment

And the 'harsh punishment' in 2006 which stopped piracy Hartley refers to, was hanging or beheading.

The death penalty deterred crime. Hmmmmnnn. Funny, that

Riaz Ahmad

December 7th, 2008 8:28pm Report this comment

In an age where western journalism has sold itself to corporate media, national vested interest, spin and sensationalism,It is welcome news that Aidan Hartley has risen above pettiness to inform us about the true state of affairs.
THREE CHEERS AIDAN, KEEP IT UP.

Riaz Ahmad

December 7th, 2008 8:43pm Report this comment

Oliver, I can see you have peaceful intentions like all peace loving people and I love to agree with you, Sadly, If I point out the political realities of international affairs, the 5000 or so who will be guiding Somalia to normalcy, any failure in complying with the political regional ambitions of European and American masters, no matter how good they are, will end up in the dust bin of history, just like many others before them. Sadly, this is the reality of westren behaviour in the third world.

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