Somali Pirates hijacked a Libyan merchant ship, called the Rim, in the Gulf of Aden. It was seized on Tuesday and by Thursday it was taken to the Somali Basin. An American destroyer and helicopter, part of an anti-piracy operation, confirmed the piracy that European Union officials had seen. It was estimated that a crew of approximately 17 people were present on the ship; however, it was not part of the Operation Atalanta, a European Union force that escorts ships. It is assumed that the pirated ship is not being taken to a Puntland pirate lair. Last year 217 ships were hijacked by Somali pirates with 47 being successful and 867 crew members becoming hostages. This is more than half of all hijackings that happened worldwide in the last year.
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If Somalia had an effective government, then piracy would cease because the government would have the ability to stabilize the economy and create jobs. Somalians only become pirates to make money, and if the government could create jobs, piracy would at the least decrease.
ReplyDeleteIn the long term piracy might decrease if Somalia had an effective government as people become attracted to more steady and fruitful jobs instead of piracy. However, in the short-term the government's police would still have their hands more than full dealing with the pirates. If military superpowers like the United States cannot keep them in check, a Somalian police force would be helpless.
ReplyDeleteAlso... how does a legitimate government come into existence in such an impoverished area? CAN IT without outside help?
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