• + Comment now
• Print
• Email
• Tweet
• Reset

Pirate attacks have decreased in the first half of 2012 as international naval forces patrolling the seas off Somalia stepped up their efforts to stop pirates from hijacking ships, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) announced Monday (July 16th).

Puntland Counter-Piracy Director Abdirizak Mohamed Dirir said the Puntland Maritime Police Force has played a significant role in reducing piracy in the region.

"The [IMB] report is true, but they have not mentioned the exceptional efforts by Puntland in this fight," Dirir told Sabahi.

Many factors have contributed to this decrease in piracy, including increased security onboard ships, and regional and European naval forces' efforts to combat piracy.

"I believe that the extra efforts by the Puntland forces are the main contributing factor to this decrease in piracy," Dirir said. "They have conducted operations in the coastal regions, they have cut off the supply route to the pirates and have arrested many pirates."

Dirir reiterated the importance of targeting pirates on the ground as well as at sea, and said Puntland needs more funding to support these efforts.

"In various [security] meetings, we have repeatedly stated that anti-piracy operations on the ground must be strengthened, however the international community has not yet moved on that," he said.

Last month, Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed requested arms and resources to fight piracy, saying his country can end piracy within a year.

New European Union anti-piracy mission

The European Union announced Monday (July 16th) the launch of a new civilian mission, EUCAP Nestor, to fight piracy in the Horn of Africa, according to an EU statement.

The new mission aims to strengthen ongoing maritime capacities in the region and train coastal police forces and judges in Somalia.

"By launching this new mission in the Horn of Africa, the EU is highlighting once again its leading role in the fight against piracy," said EU High Representative Catherine Ashton. "Under the leadership of the countries themselves, I hope that EUCAP Nestor will create lasting solutions to the scourge of piracy."

A team of about 175 people will be deployed to monitor territorial waters off the coasts of Djibouti, Kenya, the Seychelles and Somalia, which have all accepted the EU's offer of assistance.

The mission will be extended to Tanzania as soon as possible, the EU said.

In an address before the legislature, Tanzanian Minster of Defence and National Service Shamsi Vuai Nahodha highlighted Tanzania's military efforts against piracy.

He said only one ship has been hijacked this year, with three failed attempts, compared to four successful hijackings and 10 failed attempts in 2010-2011, Tanzania's The Guardian reported Tuesday (July 17th).

"Pirate activities have reduced thanks to our marine force," Nahodha said, adding that his government is intensifying military capacity to fight pirates.

The minister also said that instability in neighbouring countries remains a concern for Tanzania.

"During this period, conflicts among some of our neighbouring countries have highly contributed to increased incidents of crimes and criminals in the country," Nahodha said. "The government has instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation to use diplomatic means to find lasting solutions to conflict."