DOCSLIB.ORG

Running Head: the United States Navy and Global Maritime Piracy 1

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Running Head: the United States Navy and Global Maritime Piracy 1 Running head: The United States Navy and Global Maritime Piracy 1 The United States Navy and Global Maritime Piracy: A Case Study on Naval Strategy Kyle J Estes California Maritime Academy Running head: The United States Navy and Global Maritime Piracy 2 Abstract Maritime piracy has long been a threat to merchant mariners. The role of a navy is to protect mariners from all threats at sea and provide for the national security of their country. The United States Navy has deep roots involved with combating maritime piracy since its official creation to stop Barbary Pirates. This thesis explores the evolution of US Naval strategy in regards to piracy by examining the three 21st-century piracy hotspots. The Gulf of Aden, Strait of Malacca, and Gulf of Guinea are all unique challenges to the United States Navy in terms of naval strategy. Political corruption, socio-economic standing of the populations, and criminal involvement are all factors behind piracy in these regions. Through the continued ability by the US Navy to adapt to these changing problems, and focus on the roots of piracy rather than the surface of the attacks, the US Navy has been the premier anti-piracy force in the world. Running head: The United States Navy and Global Maritime Piracy 3 Introduction Piracy dates back to the 14th Century, but can be claimed to have existed ever since commerce has travelled by water. Piracy is defined as the attacking and robbing ships at sea for valuable goods and economic gains. Over time piracy also includes the hijacking and kidnap of crews for ransom. Piracy is primarily carried out against merchant vessels, but in some instances is carried out against privately owned vessels. Over the course of history, piracy has flourished in many regions of the world. Historically, crews of degenerates and iconic captains who would pillage and plunder across the islands of the Caribbean were seen as “pirates”. Though this may be true, piracy took place across the world including along the Barbary Coast and Asia. From the mid 1990s to the present day, piracy has taken on a new form from the eye- patches and peg legs of earlier times. Socio-economic standing is the leading factor that pushes people into modern piracy. Piracy at the end of the 20th and into the 21st century is conducted on the major trade routes of the globe, where thousands of ships transit yearly carrying bulk goods, cargo, and raw materials such as oil and natural gas. Hijackings have become more prominent than stealing goods, due to the ability to track and monitor goods movement. Because of this piracy tactics have evolved to have similar styles to that of maritime military and law enforcement tactics. Ship boarding by small teams is conducted to hijack and kidnap the crew, in hopes of earning high profit yields due to the cost of ransom paid out by large shipping companies. Currently, there are three “hot-spot” areas of concern for piracy on an international level. The Gulf of Aden, off the Somali coast, has been known for nearly twenty years as one of the deadliest areas to transit due to the high amounts of pirate activity in these waters. This area has recorded some of the highest ransom payments due to the oil and natural gas tankers traveling Running head: The United States Navy and Global Maritime Piracy 4 from the Persian Gulf through this chokepoint. Though it is on the decline, the International Maritime Bureau has cautioned merchant and private mariners to use caution while transiting these waters, and recommends traveling further off coast. The Strait of Malacca, like the Gulf of Aden is a strategic choke point for maritime traffic. The Strait of Malacca connects the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea. This causes the Strait of Malacca to be one of the most highly transited areas of the world, as manufactured Asian goods are shipped through the Strait of Malacca en route to European markets. Piracy in this region started off on a very small scale, but has grown over the last decade to be controlled by large crime syndicates of the region. Nigerian piracy is unique in comparison to Somalia and Malacca piracy in that attempts in the Gulf of Guinea are often extremely violent. Pirates in this area have even gone as far as busting oil pipelines and stealing crude oil for sale to terrorist organizations in Northern Africa and the Middle East. This has caused piracy in the Gulf of Guinea to quickly gain international recognition in the early to mid 2010s. Piracy is a dynamic, ever evolving problem that is difficult to manage due to its on-sea and on-land implications. Governmental organizations of the countries where piracy occurs do not have the ability to effectively combat piracy at sea, and make political recommendations on land. The United States Navy has been at the forefront of combating global maritime piracy through multiple political and military actions. The United States Navy was founded to protect the US merchant fleet against Barbary pirates in the late 1700’s. Today, the same founding principle of the United States Navy allows for a continued forward presence to be held in order to protect not only the US merchant fleet, but also the entire global shipping industry. By understanding the political climates of each region and adapting to the surrounding Running head: The United States Navy and Global Maritime Piracy 5 circumstances of each region the United States Navy has become a mentor and partner in military operations. This thesis will examine the historical implications that piracy had on the founding of the United States Navy, followed by an in depth case study of the three piracy “hotspots” that are found today. In doing so, current policy used by the United States Navy will be examined and recommendations will be made in order for continued success against piracy. The thesis will end with an examination of future potential areas of piracy that have been acknowledged by the International Maritime Bureau. Recommendations for these areas will be made on the policy being used else where in the world, as well as geographical recommendations that the United States Navy should follow based on the political and social implications of these new regions. Founding the United States Navy What is now the US Navy has grown tremendously since its inception in the late 18th century. In comparison to the United States Navy of the 21st century, the US Navy was not always as mission capable or large enough to remain forward deployed. The founding of the US Navy took some time to finalize, but the founding fathers were certain that there needed to be a fleet of vessels capable of protecting the US merchant fleet. At the time of the US Navy’s founding the United States Revenue Cutter Service (USRCS) was the only form of armed ships under US jurisdiction. However these ships were owned by specific ports in order to police tariff law and fair payment. Once US merchant ships were coming under attack at a higher rate on international waters, the US Navy was quickly established. American Revolution and Early Naval Fleets The American Revolution pitted the largest military force in the world, Great Britain, against the rag-tag militias and small Continental Army of the American Colonies. Along with a Running head: The United States Navy and Global Maritime Piracy 6 powerful army, the United Kingdom had the largest Navy the world had seen since Zheng He led his fleet on seven voyages for the Ming Dynasty in the 15th Century. Opposition existed amongst the members of the Continental Congress to creating a standing Navy. Many members of the Continental Congress were strongly opposed to funding and building a Continental Navy on the basis that it would be a waste of time and resources, due to the fact that the British Armada would quickly destroy any Navy built by the Colonies. Ultimately the Continental Congress would favor and support building a Continental Navy, largely due John Adam’s ability to persuade his colleagues into understanding the needs of a standing Navy (Howarth, 1999). The Continental Congress, after understanding that a Navy would be needed to slow British supply and troop replenishment, as well as protect the ports and maritime commerce of the Colonies, established the Continental Navy on October 13th, 1775. The United States Navy to this day still recognizes this date as its birth date. The Continental Navy for the most part was unsuccessful in combating the British fleet, however decisive naval victories, such as John Paul Jones victory over the HMS Serapis, were crucial in keeping American moral high. Following the Colonial victory over the British Crown, the newly formed United States, did not have the funding to continue to support a Navy and auctioned off the last vessel of the US Fleet, the USS Alliance for $26,000 (Miller, 1997). Along with the economic issues faced by the United States following the American Revolution, loose ties amongst the newly formed states, a shift to an isolationist rather than foreign viewpoint, and governmental peace time goals were all factors expressed by the US Congress to disband the Continental Navy. Barbary Pirates Starting in the 9th century, Muslim populations in North Africa conducted piracy in the Mediterranean region by raiding merchant vessels to loot goods, as well as capture thousands of Running head: The United States Navy and Global Maritime Piracy 7 slaves. These attacks were carried out by Islamic sailors from ports in Sale, Rabat, Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli, and were predominately focused on the Mediterranean region.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Spring 2015 EVENTS Overview
    Cultural Credit Spring 2015 EVENTS Overview (All events open to the public unless *noted) Fischer Film Festival (FFF)—American Culture through Film Most simply stated, beliefs, thoughts, actions, words, institutions, and possessions comprise the culture of a people. From praiseworthy to tragic, the Fischer Institute invites students to reflect on aspects of American Culture as seen through award winning films. These films reflect some of the best music, art, design, acting, and storytelling of the last few decades. A group of Nichols College students developed an award-winning list, put the options to a vote of the student body. We now present this opportunity to contemplate the good, bad and ugly of American Culture through the artistry, creativity and innovation of the influential film industry. Faculty Collaborations One of Nichols greatest assets is its talented faculty. When those faculty members collaborate to bring outside-the-classroom experiences to students and the community, everyone wins. The Fischer institute has teamed up with faculty for another semester of inspired programming. Bicentennial Celebration In honor of the Nichols Bicentennial, the Fischer Institute and the Class of 2015 work together on a never-to-be-forgotten program! Calendar of Events th th Dr. McCoy and Dr. Moore PSY 470 Retreat* Sun. Jan. 18 -19 Framingham, MA To meet the challenges of the dynamic, global, diverse workplace of the future, students of the class, Sex Matters: Gender Awareness and the Future of Work, will be taking a critical look at how understanding gender opens up exciting possibilities for a more creative, innovative, and productive work environment.
    [Show full text]
  • Somali Fisheries
    www.securefisheries.org SECURING SOMALI FISHERIES Sarah M. Glaser Paige M. Roberts Robert H. Mazurek Kaija J. Hurlburt Liza Kane-Hartnett Securing Somali Fisheries | i SECURING SOMALI FISHERIES Sarah M. Glaser Paige M. Roberts Robert H. Mazurek Kaija J. Hurlburt Liza Kane-Hartnett Contributors: Ashley Wilson, Timothy Davies, and Robert Arthur (MRAG, London) Graphics: Timothy Schommer and Andrea Jovanovic Please send comments and questions to: Sarah M. Glaser, PhD Research Associate, Secure Fisheries One Earth Future Foundation +1 720 214 4425 [email protected] Please cite this document as: Glaser SM, Roberts PM, Mazurek RH, Hurlburt KJ, and Kane-Hartnett L (2015) Securing Somali Fisheries. Denver, CO: One Earth Future Foundation. DOI: 10.18289/OEF.2015.001 Secure Fisheries is a program of the One Earth Future Foundation Cover Photo: Shakila Sadik Hashim at Alla Aamin fishing company in Berbera, Jean-Pierre Larroque. ii | Securing Somali Fisheries TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES, TABLES, BOXES ............................................................................................. iii FOUNDER’S LETTER .................................................................................................................... v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................................. vi DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................ vii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (Somali) ............................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Palingenesis of Maritime Piracy and the Evolution of Contemporary Counter-Piracy Initiatives
    THE PALINGENESIS OF MARITIME PIRACY AND THE EVOLUTION OF CONTEMPORARY COUNTER-PIRACY INITIATIVES BY ROBERT COLM MCCABE, M.A. THESIS FOR THE DEGREE OF Ph.D. DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, MAYNOOTH HEAD OF DEPARTMENT Dr Jacinta Prunty SUPERVISOR OF RESEARCH Dr Ian Speller December 2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS Contents............................................................................................................. i Dedication.......................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgments............................................................................................. v Abbreviations.................................................................................................... vii List of figures..................................................................................................... x INTRODUCTION............................................................................................ 1 CHAPTER I - MARITIME PIRACY: A TWENTIETH-CENTURY PALINGENESIS? 1.1 Introduction and general context...................................................... 20 1.2 Early legal interpretations and historical evolution......................... 22 1.3 Twentieth century legal evolution.................................................... 25 1.4 Resurgence of maritime piracy in the nineteenth century................ 31 1.5 Suppression of maritime piracy in the nineteenth century............... 37 1.6 Pre-war period (1900-14)................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • University of California
    UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Santa Barbara The United States and the Barbary Pirates: Adventures in Sexuality, State-Building, and Nationalism, 1784-1815 A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in History by Jason Raphael Zeledon Committee in charge: Professor Patricia Cohen, co-chair Professor John Majewski, co-chair Professor Salim Yaqub Professor Mhoze Chikowero June 2016 The dissertation of Jason Raphael Zeledon is approved ______________________________________________ Mhoze Chikowero ______________________________________________ Salim Yaqub ______________________________________________ Patricia Cohen, Committee Co-Chair ______________________________________________ John Majewski, Committee Co-Chair June 2016 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First, I would like to thank my eleventh-grade American History teacher, Peggy Ormsby. If I had not taken her AP class, my life probably would have gone in a different direction! At that time math was my favorite subject, but her class got me hooked on studying American History. Thanks, too, to the excellent teachers and mentors in graduate school who shaped and challenged my thinking. At American University (where I earned my M.A.), I’d like to thank Max Friedman, Andrew Lewis, Kate Haulman, and Eileen Findlay. I transferred to UCSB to finish my Ph.D. and have thoroughly enjoyed working with Pat Cohen, John Majewski, Salim Yaqub, and Mhoze Chikowero. I’d especially like to thank Pat, who provided insightful feedback on early drafts of my chapter about the Mellimelli mission (which has been published in Diplomatic History). Additionally, I’d like to thank UCSB’s History, Writing, and English Departments for providing Teaching Assistantships and the staffs of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, the Library of Congress Manuscript Reading Room, and the Huntington Library for their help and friendliness.
    [Show full text]
  • Full Spring 2010 Issue the .SU
    Naval War College Review Volume 63 Article 1 Number 2 Spring 2010 Full Spring 2010 Issue The .SU . Naval War College Follow this and additional works at: https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/nwc-review Recommended Citation Naval War College, The .SU . (2010) "Full Spring 2010 Issue," Naval War College Review: Vol. 63 : No. 2 , Article 1. Available at: https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/nwc-review/vol63/iss2/1 This Full Issue is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at U.S. Naval War College Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Naval War College Review by an authorized editor of U.S. Naval War College Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Naval War College: Full Spring 2010 Issue NAVAL WAR C OLLEGE REVIEW NAVAL WAR COLLEGE REVIEW Spring 2010 Volume 63, Number 2 Spring 2010 Spring N ES AV T A A L T W S A D R E C T I O N L L U E E G H E T R I VI IBU OR A S CT MARI VI Published by U.S. Naval War College Digital Commons, 2010 1 5430_NWCReview_Spring2010_Cover.indd 1 3/1/2010 4:14:52 PM Naval War College Review, Vol. 63 [2010], No. 2, Art. 1 Cover A model from the Naval War College Museum collection of a Korean “turtle ship,” such as those that helped repulse the sixteenth-century Japanese invasion of Korea—a campaign vital to the spirit of the modern Republic of Korea Navy, as noted by Yoji Koda (Vice Admiral, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Retired) in this issue’s lead article.
    [Show full text]
  • March-April 2019
    Vol. 55, No.2 The International Marine Division of ILA/AFL-CIO March | April 2019 Official Voice of the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots Great News: Coast Guard Finalizes Terminal Access Rule Maersk Alabama Hijacking 10 Years On: Could It Happen Again? Unions Fight Plan to Build Stadium at Port of Oakland New Bill Introduced in Congress to Repeal the Jones Act The Master, Mate & Pilot is the Table of Contents official voice of the International Vol. 55, No. 2 March | April 2019 Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots From the President 1 (International What makes a true labor union special? Respect for tradition and Marine Division of the ILA), AFL-CIO. © 2019 IOMMP. the determination to pass on to future generations the benefits that union members have fought so hard to achieve. The Master, Mate & Pilot (ISSN 0025-5033) is published bimonthly News Briefs 3 by the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots. MM&P Coast Guard finalizes seafarer terminal access rule; Maersk Alabama Headquarters: 700 Maritime Blvd., hijacking 10 years on; maritime labor unions fight plan to build Suite B, Linthicum Heights, MD stadium at Port of Oakland; new bill introduced in Congress to 21090-1953. Phone: (410) 850-8700 repeal the Jones Act; Matson’s second new Aloha class ship sets E-mail: [email protected] sail; North Ferry contract finalized; MM&P joins South Carolina Internet: www.bridgedeck.org Maritime Association; Morgan McManus appointed master of Periodicals Postage Paid at TS Empire State IV. Elkridge, MD and additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Master, Interview 18 Mate & Pilot, 700 Maritime Meet Captain John McDonnell of the MM&P Offshore Membership Blvd., Suite B, Linthicum Group.
    [Show full text]
  • Ye Intruders Beware: Fantastical Pirates in the Golden Age of Illustration
    YE INTRUDERS BEWARE: FANTASTICAL PIRATES IN THE GOLDEN AGE OF ILLUSTRATION Anne M. Loechle Submitted to the faculty of the University Graduate School in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of the History of Art Indiana University November 2010 Accepted by the Graduate Faculty, Indiana University, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Doctoral Committee _________________________________ Chairperson, Sarah Burns, Ph.D. __________________________________ Janet Kennedy, Ph.D. __________________________________ Patrick McNaughton, Ph.D. __________________________________ Beverly Stoeltje, Ph.D. November 9, 2010 ii ©2010 Anne M. Loechle ALL RIGHTS RESERVED iii Acknowledgments I am indebted to many people for the help and encouragement they have given me during the long duration of this project. From academic and financial to editorial and emotional, I was never lacking in support. I am truly thankful, not to mention lucky. Sarah Burns, my advisor and mentor, supported my ideas, cheered my successes, and patiently edited and helped me to revise my failures. I also owe her thanks for encouraging me to pursue an unorthodox topic. From the moment pirates came up during one of our meetings in the spring of 2005, I was hooked. She knew it, and she continuously suggested ways to expand the idea first into an independent study, and then into this dissertation. My dissertation committee – Janet Kennedy, Patrick McNaughton, and Beverly Stoeltje – likewise deserves my thanks for their mentoring and enthusiasm. Other scholars have graciously shared with me their knowledge and input along the way. David M. Lubin read a version of my third chapter and gave me helpful advice, opening up to me new ways of thinking about Howard Pyle in particular.
    [Show full text]
  • Piracy in Somalia Awet Tewelde Weldemichael Index More Information
    Cambridge University Press 978-1-108-49696-4 — Piracy in Somalia Awet Tewelde Weldemichael Index More Information Index ‘Aadde Muse (Mohamud Hirsi Muse), ancillary trades, ransom piracy and rise of, 89–91, 95–97, 157–158, 159 104–115 Abdallah, Ahmedou Ould, 29–30 anti-piracy initiatives Abdi, Mohamed (“Garfanje”), 86–88 abandonment of pirates at sea and, Abdi, Rashid, 100 193–194 Abdi Isse clan family, 75–78 best management practices, 177 Abdiweli Mohamed, Ali “Gas,” 56–57, decline in piracy and, 197–198 75–78, 130, 136–138, 162n.76 emergence of, 20 Abdullahi, Farah, 88 geopolitics and, 184–188 ab initio doctrine, 32–35 grassroots initiatives, 162–166 Abshir, Mohamed, 11–12, 70 international measures, 20, 171–195 Academy for Peace and Development local antipiracy responses, 157–158 (APD), 17–18 militarization of, 102–103, 171–173, Affi, Ladan, 33n.44, 186–187 175–176, 178–179 African countries, anti-piracy initiatives non-military measures, 178–179 and, 187–188 outcomes and missteps of, 188–194 African Union (AU), 32–35 piracy-terrorism nexus and, 179–184 African Union Mission in Somalia recommendations involving, 201–203 (AMISOM), 187–188 regional governments, 158–162 “Afweyne” (Mohamed Abdi Hassan), Somali criticism of, 186–187 81–82, 86–88, 127–132, 187–188 Union of Islamic Courts and, 85–86 Ahlu Sunna Wal Al-Jamaa, 10–11 violence against Somalis from, Ahmed, Sharif Sheikh, 89–91, 132 191–194 Ahmed “Saneeg,” 86–88 antiterrorism tactics Aidid, Mohamed Farah, 9–10, 52 anti-piracy initiatives and, 179 air-dropping of ransoms, 110, 126–127
    [Show full text]
  • African Warrior Culture
    African Warrior Culture: The Symbolism and Integration of the Avtomat Kalashnikova throughout Continental Africa By Kevin Andrew Laurell Senior Thesis in History California State Polytechnic University, Pomona June 10, 2014 Grade: Advisor: Dr. Amanda Podany Laurell 1 "I'm proud of my invention, but I'm sad that it is used by terrorists… I would prefer to have invented a machine that people could use and that would help farmers with their work - for example a lawnmower."- Mikhail Kalashnikov The Automatic Kalashnikov is undoubtedly the most recognizable and iconic of all weapon systems over the past sixty-seven years. Commonly referred to as the AK or AK-47, the rifle is a symbol of both oppression and revolution in war-torn parts of the world today. Most major conflicts over the past forty years throughout Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and South America have been fought with Kalashnikov rifles. The global saturation of Kalashnikov weaponry finds its roots in the Cold War mentalities of both the Soviet Union and Western powers vying for ideological footholds and powerful spheres of influence. Oftentimes the fiercest Cold War conflicts took place in continental Africa, with both Moscow and Washington interfering with local politics and providing assistance to one group or another. While Communist-Socialist and Western Capitalist ideologies proved unsuccessful in many regions in Africa, the AK-47 remained the surviving victor. From what we know of the Cold War, millions of Automatic Kalashnikovs (as well as the patents to the weapons) were sent to countries that were willing to discourage the threat of Western influence.
    [Show full text]
  • Special List 382: the Ottoman Empire
    special list 382 1 RICHARD C.RAMER Special List 382 The Ottoman Empire 2 RICHARDrichard c. C.RAMER ramer Old and Rare Books 225 east 70th street . suite 12f . new york, n.y. 10021-5217 Email [email protected] . Website www.livroraro.com Telephones (212) 737 0222 and 737 0223 Fax (212) 288 4169 July 20, 2020 Special List 382 The Ottoman Empire Items marked with an asterisk (*) will be shipped from Lisbon. SATISFACTION GUARANTEED: All items are understood to be on approval, and may be returned within a reasonable time for any reason whatsoever. VISITORS BY APPOINTMENT Specialspecial Listlist 382 382 3 The Ottoman Empire Procession and Prayers in Mecca to Ward Off the Persians 1. ANTONIO, João Carlos [pseudonym of António Correia de Lemos]. Relaçam de huma solemne e extraordinaria procissam de preces, que por ordem da Corte Ottomana fizerão os Turcos na Cidade de Meca, no dia 16 de Julho de 1728. Para alcançar a assistencia de Deos contra as armas dos Persas; e aplacar o flagello da peste, que todos os annos experimenta a sua Monarquia. Traduzida de huma que se recebeo da Cidade de Constanti- nopla por ... Primeira parte [only, of 2]. Lisboa Occidental: Na Officina de Pedro Ferreira, 1730. 4°, disbound. Small woodcut vignette on title page. Woodcut headpiece with arms of Portugal and five-line woodcut initial on p. 3. Minor marginal worming (touching a few letters at edges), light browning, lower margin unevenly cut but not touching text. Barely in good condition. 21, (2) pp. $700.00 First Edition in Portuguese, with a lengthy and detailed description of a procession at Mecca.
    [Show full text]
  • Piracy Around Africa's West and East Coasts: a Comparative Political
    Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 38, Nr 2, 2010. doi: 10.5787/38-2-91 89 PIRACY AROUND AFRICA’S WEST AND EAST COASTS: A COMPARATIVE POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE Prof Theo Neethling, Department of Political Science, University of the Free State Abstract The study of politics, or political science, focuses on both the abstract theories and practical operation of government and politics. The phenomenon of piracy on the east and west coasts of Africa brings an important scholarly issue to the fore, namely the significant roles of non-state actors in national, regional and global issues and politics. The phenomenon of maritime piracy along Africa’s coastal areas is indeed of great strategic and political-economic interest − specifically since globalisation and maritime trade show a close interface. This article examines the similarities and differences relating to the phenomenon of piracy on the east and west coasts of Africa from a Political Science perspective by assessing, interpreting and appraising the phenomenon, and ascribing meaning to recent events and developments. It also explains the current insecurity off the west and east African coasts and closes with a brief comparison between the two regions under review. It concludes with the point that most security challenges confronting Africa have their origin in the lack or failure of governance as states are the primary actors and agents of good order at sea. Thus the required good order at sea should be viewed as a function of how states, such as Somalia and Nigeria, exercise their jurisdiction at sea to secure busy sea lanes and also to protect the safe harvesting and extraction of resources.
    [Show full text]
  • The Pirates of the Somali Coast
    1 The Pirates of the Somali Coast Africa’s longest coastline unprotected, which created a perfect opportunity for By Mona Ali, Analyst and Amharic/Arabic Linguist, piracy. Throughout the ensuing civil war, Melbourne, Australia tens of thousands of Somalis endured war, severe droughts and endemic poverty. During this desperate time Somalis turned to ince ancient times Somali sea their coastal areas to form fishing merchants are a common sight plying communities so as to provide for their basic their trade across the Arabian and S needs. Fishing became their only means of Red Seas. Piracy was a thriving business in survival. Azania (Somalia) according to Roman astronomer Claudius Ptolemy in 150 AD. In 1992, a contract was established between the Swiss firm ‘Achair Partners’ and the Italian firm ‘Progresso’ with Nur Elmy Osman the then acting Somali Minister for Health, under the interim government headed by Ali Mahdi Muhammad (warlord). Osman had allegedly entered into an $80 million contract with these two firms in December of 1991, allowing them to build a 10 million ton storage facility for hazardous waste, according to Italian magazine Famiglia Cristiana (1997). An Italian Green Peace report (2010) revealed that between 1989 and 1994 there were 94 attempted During Somalia’s post-independence period /actual cases of hazardous waste exports to (1960- ), the Somali Navy conducted Africa – over 10 million tons of toxic maritime patrols which prevented foreign residue. According to environmental group ships from illegally infringing on Somalia’s ‘Legambiente’ (1997): “Somalia’s inland maritime borders. In 1991, the Somali waste dumps are among the largest in the military government was ousted by a clan- world”.
    [Show full text]