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The scourge of piracy is a serious challenge not only to the international community but also to the people of the Horn of Africa. Numerous countries which originate shipments and those to which the goods are destined as well as those which own the ships are suffering serious losses and disruptions as a result of the increasingly rampant crime of piracy around Somalia. Millions of dollars incurred as a result of the delays and disruptions of sea transportation caused by the pirates and the ransom money that had to be paid to the criminals is an unacceptable situation that has to be dealt with in an effective manner. It should be noted also that countries in the region including Kenya, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia are suffering from disruptions of shipments due to the criminal activities of the pirates. One of the most tragic and ironic aspects of the piracy is that, among the victims of the crime, are the huge number of Somalis themselves who are made to suffer immensely due to delays in the delivery of food they so desperately need. One other gravely important emerging situation is the increasing military presence of numerous countries including those of USA, France, India, Iran, China, etc. in the Horn of Africa as a direct result of the scourge of piracy around Somalia. The negative impact of such a predicament for both the international community as well as the countries of the Horn of Africa is quite obvious. Therefore, the costs and negative impact of the on-going crime of piracy around Somalia poses a serious challenge to the international community including the African Union, the Arab League, the European Union, and countries such as Iran, USA, and the countries in the Horn of Africa. Fundamental Causes The piracy in Somalia is a symptom of serious underlying constraints that have been afflicting the country and the countries in the Horn of Africa for a long time. It can also be stated categorically that the advent of the piracy could be ascribed to the virtual negligence of the Somalia issue by the international community. For some twenty years, Somalia has been in existence without a viable government, torn apart by clan violence that has devastated the country politically and economically. Although there is a semblance of stability in parts of Somalia i.e. Somaliland and Puntland, chaos and instability still reign in southern Somalia where, for the first time in many years, a new leadership seems to emerge with hopeful signs of achieving some peace. Kidane Alemayehu We welcome the submission of all articles for possible publication on WardheerNews.com So please email your article today Opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of WardheerNews |
