Piracy between maritime security requirement and regional synchronization building

By REZA MULLER
Expert in Gulf Security Affairs

Reports from London-based International Maritime Bureau reveal that around 60 ships have been attacked in the Gulf of Eden and the Indian Ocean since January 2008 by pirates from Somalia, and estimates show that the number of pirates on the Somali coast has risen to over 1,100. The ransom money received by these pirates in 2008 had risen to $30 million.
This increase in piracy in the Gulf of Eden exposes gradually a major threat to international trade, especially to oil trade from the Gulf that enters the Red Sea from the South and joins Indian Ocean through the Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb, a passageway for oil from the Arab Gulf region to the Red Sea and through the Suez Canal to international markets. It shortens the distance travelled by oil tankers to Europe by 60%.
Nevertheless piracy is not a prerogative of our era. However, the resurgence of terrorism in the Gulf of Aden in recent times is caused by new factors, including the collapse of the Somali state, and technological advances.
The problem of failed state is real as it evokes the case of Somalia. a few decades ago, acts of robbery off the Somali coast, still can be summed up in acts of illegal fishing.
Today, piracy is one of the most prosperous country enterprises that effectively overcome the lack of revenue in the maritime sector, and which rewards the country against the situation of inoperative economy. These deserted coasts under the jurisdiction and sovereignty of a State are unable to act effectively and are therefore inexorably a suitable shelter for pirates who roam in the sense that they are away from the actions of any third State whatsoever.

Moreover, the rapid evolution of technology, including ship design more simple to operate, is a significant catalyst of maritime piracy. Indeed, there is less than twenty years, the manoeuvring of a vessel required the mobilization of several tens of people, which made them less vulnerable.
Today, there are merchant ships whose crew may consist of fewer than ten people. This obviously makes the task much easier for small enough armed criminal groups. Reports stated that the Somali pirates would receive logistical and financial support from Al Qaeda terrorist network – to take control of a merchant ship or a tanker. But such statements are based on estimation not on intelligence facts and data collection.
At a time when piracy in the Gulf of Eden and off the Somali coast poses a major threat to navigation in the Red Sea, recent military activities by superpowers in the region has caused some Arab countries overlooking the area to become apprehensive, and Yemen even recently warned that the piracy problem could blow up into an international issue and undermine the sovereignty of the Red Sea. Yemen has sought cooperation with other Arab countries bordering the Red Sea like Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Perhaps, three factors have forced Yemen and other Arab countries that have a coast on the Red Sea to become wary of recent international military build up in the area. First, these military moves by international forces are being conducted outside any international reference or framework such as the United Nations. Consequently, these powers could threaten and assault on the pretext of fighting piracy and linking their actions to the global war on terrorism.
The other argument for discomfort among countries in the region is that it paves the way for military influence and conflict in the waters of the Red Sea, especially that Russia has also sent its military warships to the region. The third cause for this unease is that if the Red Sea becomes a center of international crisis, it could serve Israel’s longstanding interests in the area, which have thus far been opposed and thwarted by Arabs.
Anti-piracy escorts off Somalia are working, but piracy cannot be eliminated unless its root causes on land – including poverty and Somalia’s failed state – are tackled too, and all vessels should register for protection.
The first step to be implemented should be the call for an independent investigation into war crimes and human rights violations in Somalia.
Taking a “weak attitude” towards pirates’ demands, without “the necessary coercive measures”, could be counter-productive.
Experts in the Area of Piracy and Maritime security suggest setting up a small-scale Security and Defence Policy operation, in parallel to counter-piracy Operation to train Somali security forces.
To reduce the risks of attack or capture, all vessels should register with maritime security operations since that about 40% of vessels sailing in the area are not registered. 
Recently, Al-Shabab Islamist militants in Somalia are stopping convoys of food reaching more than 360,000 displaced people.  The armed group justified its action by the fact  that food distributed by the UN agency had disadvantaged local farmers and accused the WFP of being politically motivated.
The contractors working with WFP must avoid collaborating … anyone working with the agency will be seen serving the interest of WFP”.
Al-Shabab said they had received complaints from Somali farmers that the quantity of the WFP food aid prevented them from selling their own products at a fair price. The group charged also some food was past its expiry date and had caused people to fall ill.
Responding to the ban, the WFP insisted its role in Somalia was “impartial and non political”. However, the United Nations has consequently the obligation to investigate about toxic waste dumping and illegal fishing along the Somali coast.

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