Ending the Piracy in Somalia

For more than a year or so, we have been swarmed with news on pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia almost daily. I have to admit that prior to the very first news on Somalia pirates, the ‘real’ pirates I had heard about were those roaming around the Straits of Malacca. (Sorry to disappoint those who thought I would say Captain Jack Sparrow). Every time I come across articles on this issue, I have always wondered for how long the attacks have been happening? Is it a generation-old situation which sadly has never caught the global media’s attention until now? Or is it a very recent development?

Given the easy access to information in this age, I have no doubt I can find the answer to those questions rather quickly if I want to. However, I would pass that for the time being because I think there is another aspect of this pirate issue which should be given more weights: the ways to solve it.

Last December, after a long debate following weeks of front-page prominence given to this issue by leading newspapers around the world, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1851 which in short, called for further international operations against Somalia pirates. Since then, various countries, inclusive of China which usually prefers not to meddle in other country’s affairs, had sent their navies to the Gulf of Aden to protect ships passing through what is dubbed one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. Better equipped and trained, these soldiers had successfully rescued many hostages and also foiled numerous hijacking attempts by the pirates.

Although yielding some positive results, we have to admit this method employs nothing more than a conventional use of force. Just like any other similar method involving force, it may backfire under certain situations such as “a hungry man is an angry man.” situation. Another clear weakness is that it doesn’t solve the issue at its core, which many have identified to be the dire and anarchic situation that Somalia is in. When these countries pull back their navies, which are highly likely considering the deployment cost, the lack of pressure will entice the Somalians, particularly those with no other options, to once again enter this profitable but illegal trade, a case of desperate times calls for desperate measures.

Complimenting the current military operations with social programs may have greater impact in reducing piracy than the operations alone because social programs provide alternatives that these pirates can consider. These programs act as barriers between the Somalians and piracy itself. One important program which UN can explore would be those which result in creation of jobs and hence, the reduction of social problems. Without jobs, these people may have higher tendency to go back to piracy because they, just like any of us, need a mean to support their families. Rehabilitation services can also be provided to educate them and hopefully, mend their ways. Strengthening law enforcement institutions within the country should also be on the cards so that Somalia can play its role as a responsible global citizen.