Briefing Paper

Roger Middleton, October 2008

Download Paper here

Piracy off the coast of Somalia has more than doubled in 2008; so far over 60 ships have been attacked. Pirates are regularly demanding and receiving million-dollar ransom payments and are becoming more aggressive and assertive.

The international community must be aware of the danger that Somali pirates could become agents of international terrorist networks. Already money from ransoms is helping to pay for the war in Somalia , including funds to the US terror-listed Al-Shabaab.

The high level of piracy is making aid deliveries to drought-stricken Somalia ever more difficult and costly. The World Food Programme has already been forced to temporarily suspend food deliveries. Canada is now escorting WFP deliveries but there are no plans in place to replace their escort when it finishes later this year.

The danger and cost of piracy (insurance premiums for the Gulf of Aden have increased tenfold) mean that shipping could be forced to avoid the Gulf of Aden/Suez Canal and divert around the Cape of Good Hope. This would add considerably to the costs of manufactured goods and oil from Asia and the Middle East . At a time of high inflationary pressures, this should be of grave concern.

Piracy could cause a major environmental disaster in the Gulf of Aden if a tanker is sunk or run aground or set on fire. The use of ever more powerful weaponry makes this increasingly likely.

There are a number of options for the international community but ignoring the problem is not one of them. It must ensure that WFP deliveries are protected and that gaps in supply do not occur.

Piracy in Somalia : Threatening Global Trade, Feeding Local Wars-Report
2 Oct 2, 2008 - 7:41:36 AM

Piracy off the coast of Somalia has more than doubled in 2008 and threatens to disrupt international trade and could potentially become a weapon of international terrorism, says a new Chatham House paper.

Pirates are regularly demanding and receiving million-dollar ransom payments and their operations are become increasingly sophisticated. The pirates have improved their equipment and now use GPS systems and satellite phones giving them a greater ability to capture potential targets.

' Piracy in Somalia: Threatening Global Trade, Feeding Local Wars ' says the danger of piracy could mean shipping is forced away from the Gulf of Aden into the longer route to Europe and North America. The extra weeks of travel and fuel consumption could have a major impact on oil and commodity prices.

The paper also argues that Somali pirates could become agents of international terrorist networks. Already money from ransoms is helping to pay for the war in Somalia , including funds to the US terror-listed Al-Shabaab. In a region that saw the attacks on the USS Cole, the possibility of seaborne terrorism should be taken seriously.

As a result of piracy, the World Food Programme (WFP) has been forced to temporarily suspend food deliveries to drought-stricken Somalia . Canada is now escorting WFP deliveries but there are no plans in place to replace their escort when it ends later this year.

In this paper, Roger Middleton, outlines a number of options available to the international community to reduce the risks of piracy but stresses that ignoring the problem is not one of them. Only a political solution in Somalia offers a long-term solution to piracy.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Read Piracy in Somalia: Threatening Global Trade, Feeding Local Wars .

Roger Middleton is a consultant researcher working for the Africa Programme at Chatham House. He specializes in the politics of the Horn of Africa, African Peace and Security and Africa 's relations with the EU.

Roger Middleton is available for interview. Mobile : +44 (0) 7886 927 694

Contact:

Nicola Norton

Media Relations Manager

+44 (0) 20 7957 5739

+44 (0) 7917 757 528

nnorton@chathamhouse.org.uk

Home | Contact us | Links | Archives | Search