Impact of Somali Pirates and Role of United Nation
By David Raja Marpaung S.IP M.Def
Background
Piracy off the coast of Somalia has its roots in, among other factors, state failure, encroachment of Somali waters and the poor living conditions of the Somali population. A better understanding of this phenomenon requires a brief historical perspective. Before the collapse of the Siad Barre regime in 1991, Somalia received aid from countries such as Denmark, Great Britain, Iraq, Japan, Sweden, the former Soviet Union and West Germany to develop its fishing industry, mainly for export since there was a low demand for seafood in Somalia[1] The collapse of Somalia’s central state, however, created instability and security problems that undermined legitimate forms of production, including the fishing industry. Foreign trawlers reportedly using prohibited fishing equipment such as small mesh nets and sophisticated underwater lighting systems then started encroaching on the waters of Somalia[2]. With time, Somalia’s unpatrolled waters also became a cost-free dumping ground for industrial toxic waste. This was evident when the 2005 tsunami washed up barrels of hazardous waste products onto the shores of Somalia, which, according to a United Nations report. After that, Piracy became the fastest and sometimes only way for young males to secure livelihoods and enhance their social status. This criminal activity has since evolved not only in terms of magnitude but also in sophistication. It has grown into a multimillion-dollar industry, with gunmen demanding huge ransoms for the ships they seize. Piracy has also shifted away from its initial concentration around the port of Mogadishu to areas outside the Somaliwaters, extending into the Gulf of Aden and downwards towards the exclusive economic zone of the Seychelles.
Piracy off the coast of Somalia is growing at an alarming rate and threatens to drastically disrupt international trade. Beyond the immediate threat that maritime piracy poses to crews, property, and ships, it endangers sea lines of communication, interferes with freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce, and undermines regional stability by providing funds that feed the vicious war in Somalia. Political and social development is corroded by piracy in Africa, disrupting capital formation and economic development, fuelling corruption, and empowering private armies. Pirates have progressively increased their capacity by abandoning their little boats for full-fledged cargo boats, and by using AK-47 assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades instead of small weapons. They also now use global positioning systems (GPS) and satellite phones, and it is suggested that they are plugged into an international network that feeds them with information from ports in the Gulf, Europe and Asia.
Economic Impact Of Somali Pirate
United Nations report noted that the looting of Somali pirate activity is expanding, resulting in losses of more than a year the world's 7.0 billion. The report calls on countries to strengthen maritime security and the establishment of the pirates to court.[3] Since 2008, Somali pirates have captured nearly 2,000 people, and received $ 9,500,000 ransom. According to United Nations figures, as of December 31 last year, there are 26 boats and 612 people in their hands. It is reported, the report estimated loss of $ 7,000,000,000, including the military expenditure, loss of value of the goods, the ransom and higher insurance premiums. currently a total of 780 pirates were detained by the navy in 13 countries. However, the 10 were arrested at sea pirates, there are 9 will be released on the spot, because there is no place to judge them.
The proliferation of piracy in Somalia has substantial international trade implications. Approximately 16,000 ships pass through the Gulf of Aden each year on their way to the Suez Canal in Egypt, transporting myriad Asian goods and oil from the Persian Gulf region to Europe and North America. The threat of piracy has exponentially increased the cost of travel along this route. Expectedly, ransom payments and lost travel time escalate costs on hijacked vessels. All ships, however, incur increased costs in the form of higher insurance premiums. War risk premiums must now be paid on ships traveling through the Gulf of Aden, which has increased premiums tenfold over the past year. If premiums continue to rise, companies may have to take longer, more costly routes to reach Europe and North America. One possible alternative is traveling around the Cape of Good Hope, a journey that takes several extra weeks of fuel consumption and travel time. These increased expenses translate into higher commodity price for a variety of goods, including oil. In a world already damaged by the recent surges in energy costs, continued price increases pose a serious threat to international commerce and development.[4]
Regional Impact
The rise of piracy in 2008 , where more than 90 cases were reported, has severely impacted the security of the Red Sea being a strategic water passage. With the rise in risks of navigation in the region, many countries began to use alternative routes such as the Cape of Good Hope, even though it is more costly to do so. The risks that are imposed by piracy are: the weakening of the economies that benefit from the Red Sea trade routes; the potential that the Red Sea region could transform into a battle field where other countries impose themselves politically and drug dealing could blossom under such chaotic circumstances; the transforming of the Red Sea into an international water passage, which would reap out the benefits of the benefiting regional countries; and finally fears that Israel and its allies would dominate the region under the banner of “war on terror” and reshape it as proposed by the “Greater Middle East” plan.
Yemen is one of the first countries to recognize the threat imposed by piracy. As early as 1977, it held a conference for all Arab countries to discuss the security of the Red Sea region. However, due to the global political situation at the time –the Cold War, and the Arab-Israeli War- the agenda was put aside and received little attention. Yemen, however, continued to press on the subjects, especially after the collapse of the Somali government and the political turmoil that took place in East Africa. Thus, with the rise in piracy by 2007, the already fragile Somali economy had suffered msever consequences.
As for Egypt, it has sustained direct repercussions as a result of piracy, which endangered Egyptian vessels and impacted negatively on shipping through the Suez Canal. Equally important, however, are the negative ramifications on Egypt's national security. Thus the whole situation requires swift actions on the part of Egypt so as to preserve its interests. Cairo could move in cooperation with other countries or international organizations with which it shares worries over the security of the region, or it could act unilaterally if collective action proves wasteful or unworthy.
Currently, safeguarding shipping through the Red Sea and nearby areas is an Egyptian top priority. Piracy could lead to the diminishing of revenue gained by Egyptian coffers off the Suez Canal, which make up one of the largest foreign currency income sources for Egypt. Revenues from the Suez Canal fell from $469.6 million in September to $467.5 million in October to $419.8 million in November. According to experts, revenues will dramatically decrease should the problem of piracy remain unresolved.
With the persistence of this problem, an international coalition of forces was formed to battle this crisis. This coalition of forces was led by the US, France, and other Western countries. The security council has passed a legislation that allowed for military presence of Western countries in Somali waters. The fear of turning the Red Sea into an international water passage has sparked alarms in the neighboring countries. It is widely thought that the United State’s and EU’s presence in Somalia is primarily to internationalize the southern entrance to the Red Sea and the gulf of Aden. The greater objective however, is sought to be internationalizing the Suez Canal. An action that threatens both Egypt’s national security and that of the Arab world as well.
Yemen is one of the first countries to recognize the threat imposed by piracy. As early as 1977, it held a conference for all Arab countries to discuss the security of the Red Sea region. However, due to the global political situation at the time –the Cold War, and the Arab-Israeli War- the agenda was put aside and received little attention. Yemen, however, continued to press on the subjects, especially after the collapse of the Somali government and the political turmoil that took place in East Africa. Thus, with the rise in piracy by 2007, the already fragile Somali economy had suffered msever consequences.
As for Egypt, it has sustained direct repercussions as a result of piracy, which endangered Egyptian vessels and impacted negatively on shipping through the Suez Canal. Equally important, however, are the negative ramifications on Egypt's national security. Thus the whole situation requires swift actions on the part of Egypt so as to preserve its interests. Cairo could move in cooperation with other countries or international organizations with which it shares worries over the security of the region, or it could act unilaterally if collective action proves wasteful or unworthy.
Currently, safeguarding shipping through the Red Sea and nearby areas is an Egyptian top priority. Piracy could lead to the diminishing of revenue gained by Egyptian coffers off the Suez Canal, which make up one of the largest foreign currency income sources for Egypt. Revenues from the Suez Canal fell from $469.6 million in September to $467.5 million in October to $419.8 million in November. According to experts, revenues will dramatically decrease should the problem of piracy remain unresolved.
With the persistence of this problem, an international coalition of forces was formed to battle this crisis. This coalition of forces was led by the US, France, and other Western countries. The security council has passed a legislation that allowed for military presence of Western countries in Somali waters. The fear of turning the Red Sea into an international water passage has sparked alarms in the neighboring countries. It is widely thought that the United State’s and EU’s presence in Somalia is primarily to internationalize the southern entrance to the Red Sea and the gulf of Aden. The greater objective however, is sought to be internationalizing the Suez Canal. An action that threatens both Egypt’s national security and that of the Arab world as well.
The Role Of United Nation
United Nation should play a big role to solve the Somali Pirates. United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the main organs of the United Nations. It's the muscle wing of the UN organisation, its powers include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, enforcing multinational sanctions and deployment of military interventions. There are fifteen countries in the Security Council, but only five of them are the so called Permanent Representatives to the Security Council.
The UNSC's role in international collective security is defined by the UN Charter, which gives the Security Council the power to:
• Investigate any situation threatening international peace;
• Recommend procedures for peaceful resolution of a dispute;
• Call upon other member nations to completely or partially interrupt economic relations as well as sea, air, postal, and radio communications, or to sever diplomatic relations;
• Enforce its decisions militarily, or by any means necessary;
• Avoid conflict and maintain focus on cooperation.
So on the Issue of Somali Piracy, it falls to the UNSC to utilise it's power and rights to resolve peacefully and diplomatically, or to take necessary actions against involved parties
Today's model and structure clearly make it slow and not so effective. But this is a process. Today’s crisis with maritime piracy should be solved now.
What kind of action is useful to be taken[5]:
1. Adoption of a Resolution of the UNSC, as a continuation of the so far adopted ones – to conduct peace support operations around the Gulf of Aden and North-Western part of the Indian Ocean, together with specialized combat units of NATO (after coordination and contacting) and with participation (resources) of other states interested in solving the problem and specialized international organizations, under UN command;
2. Adoption of a resolution of the UNSC, which allows for declaring of "naval blockade" according to Art. 42 of UN Chapter of the Ports, who sheltered combat units of pirates and captured ships and crews;
3. Implementing limited "coercive measures" under Chapter VII of UN Charter to Ports used for "base" of sea pirates, like Ale and others along the coast of Somalia;
4. To be conducted intensive diplomatic contacts by the United Nations with the African Union and the Administration of Senegal, presented at the UN, asking for full cooperation and unconditional assistance and in accordance with Art. 43 of UN Charter;
5. International commercial shipping organizations, insurers and P & I Clubs to build funds to collect funds to combat sea-piracy, which could be available for goals by UN operations in this connection, thereby alleviating the Organization budget;
6. International organizations and countries that have information satellites in Earth orbit, passing over the areas of maritime pirates to provide a photo and related information about the coordinates of pirates and the hijacked vessels;
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