Piracy off the coast of Somalia has been getting some news nowadays. The world has taken notice because ships as large as oil tankers are being held for ransom. The number of attacks has risen to 53 in the first three months of 2009 compared to 6 in 2008. Somalia is located on the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden, it is a major shipping route because it connects the east to the west. Just to the north of Somalia there is the largest oil producing area in the world, which contributes to much of the riches in the area. Few people know why Somalia piracy is happening. Piracy is about the only source of income Somali’s have, because of the crisis going on. But the world has chosen to focus on the violence and piracy, instead of the country’s problematic crisis.The crisis at hand is a serious one. There is no real government in control of Somalia nor is there any significant source of income coming into the country. The country has been run by violence since President Siad Barre who was overthrown and killed in 1991. The former United States backed Presidents regime became more and more ruthless and thug-like at the end of his 20 year regimes. His regime waged war against its own people, by pillaging, torturing, committing mass executions and even dropping bombs. After its government was overthrown Somalia was controlled by two rebel movements, the United Somali Congress and the Somalia National Movement. From 1991 till 2000 there was no appointed government, just warlords controlling areas using violence. In 2000 the Transitional National Government (TNG) was formed, to fight the warlords and to regain control of Somalia. In 2001 the Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council war formed, led by the son of a former warlord. When the TNG and the SRRC joined in 2004 they became the Transitional Federal Government, TFG. The TFG is backed by the United States, Canada, and Ethiopia. Ethiopia has just pulled out of Somalia after too much death and not enough progress. Ethiopian General has been quoted “It is time Somalia stands on its own feet so we are saying goodbye to all Somalis.” They believe it is an unwinnable war. Now with Ethiopia’s help gone some say it could pave the way for peace while others say it will only create a power vacuum. The war in Somalia is being fought between the TFG and the Islamic Courts Union (ICU).Now with piracy playing an effect in world powers lives, there is more urgency in their thoughts to help restore Somalia which we failed to do 18 years ago. Efforts to end all this need to happen in the country. "We need to deal with this problem from the beach side, in concert with the ocean side, but we don't have an embassy in Somalia and limited, ineffective intelligence operations. We need to work in Somalia and in Lebanon, where a lot of the ransom money has changed hands. But our operations in Lebanon are a joke, and we have no presence at all in Somalia."Ken Silverstien, Harpers magazine The UN who pulled out in 1995 because of so many casualties, have rejected calls to go back. Hillary Clinton has said on dealing with Somali piracy we will “explore ways to track and freeze pirate assets," and not pay any ransom to “armed gangs on the sea.” It is known the US supports the TFG, but to put a full scale effort there is not what we are going to do. We do not need another war, we are still trying to get out of others. It is unlikely that Americans will want to support the war financially.
Live Piracy Map;
http://www.icc-ccs.org/index.php?option=com_fabrik&view=visualization&controller=visualization.googlemap&Itemid=219
http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa-205.html
http://www.somaligov.net/News.html
http://www.voanews.com/english/Africa/2009-04-10-voa3.cfm
