Who are the pirates of Somalia? How did this gang originate? We will answer these and other questions in the article. Somali pirates are modern armed groups, with the aim of redeeming exciting ships off the coast of Somalia. They are armed, as a rule, with grenade launchers and automatic weapons. Small vehicles (motor boats, boats, fishing schooners) are used as vehicles.
Organization
Somali pirates are often superbly organized, but not very well trained. The territorial waters of Somalia have the status of the location of naval bases of some countries and international organizations, as well as militarized (police, military, humanitarian) zones of responsibility of the guarding, patrolling or checking parties. In order to ensure shipping safety, the pirate area is patrolled by forces of the Russian Navy, NATO member countries, India and other states.
The composition of the groups
Somali pirates are young people aged 20-35 from Putland (a self-proclaimed state in northeast Somalia). According to the Air Force Agency, pirates are divided into the following categories of persons:
- experts working with equipment, mainly with GPS equipment;
- local fishermen who understand a lot about marine situations;
- former military men who participated in the internal battles of Somalia as part of local unions.
The Association for Assistance to Sailors of West Africa found that there are about five basic pirate gangs that have a thousand gunmen in arms.
The advent of piracy
How and why did the pirates of Somalia come about? Since 1991, this country has virtually ceased to exist in the form of a centralized state, having divided into zones of local authorities. Since then, the financial system and centralized economy have not been functioning in it.
The country is full of weapons. Thanks to this nuance, it is not at all difficult to create superbly equipped raider teams. The local government (or rather, tribal leaders and field commanders) either participates in the pirate trade or turns a blind eye to it. It is not interested in any opposition to the militants, since they do not exert any influence on its interethnic status.
How did the Somali pirates begin hijacking ships? Near this country, the routes of ships sailing through the Suez Canal from Asia and the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean lie. In addition, ships often go to or from the ports of the Indian Riviera in Africa. It is known that the countries of Europe and Asia quite often conclude trade contracts with each other. As a result, an impressive stream of ships with valuable cargo turns into a mass of objects for a possible capture.
Since 2004, piracy in this area of the planet began to develop at an accelerated pace. The International Maritime Bureau reported that in the Somali waters since the beginning of 2008, more than 100 attacks were carried out on transport ships. During this period, the militants were able to capture 40 ships, 13 of them have not been released until now. To this day, about 268 people from various countries are in captivity.
From November 10 to 16, 2008, 11 attacks were carried out in this area (three ships were hijacked), and four episodes were recorded in which the shooting was conducted. Pirates have always used quite powerful small arms and even grenade launchers, but so far not a single sailor has died from their hands. Perhaps this is due to the disgusting training and deliberate tactics of the militants, who understand that if blood spills, they will face severe persecution on the shore. That is why pirates are loyal to hostage-seafarers, and ransom is required from companies and corporations, owners of cargo and ships.
Of course, the hunt for Somali pirates is open. Interethnic forces and special forces of the countries that sent their Navy to the area of the incident are increasingly opening fire to defeat. In 2010, militants accused Russian special forces of executing 10 pirates without trial. This incident occurred after the liberation of the Russian tanker.
In 2011, February 22, the situation changed: sea robbers took the lives of US hostages on a yacht that was being pursued by an American ship. The militants opened fire on a warship from an RPG, but missed. After that, 4 US citizens were killed on a yacht.
Interethnic reaction
When did the fight against the pirates of Somalia begin? In 2008, on October 7, the UN Security Council adopted Decree No. 1838, which allowed states to use the Air Force and Navy in this confrontation.
In 2008, on December 8, the EU launched Operation Atlanta, and in January 2009, Operational Mixed Group No. 151 was created.
Of primary importance is Decree No. 1816, adopted by the UN Security Council in 2008. It is it that sets the foundations for the fight against piracy off the coast of Somalia.
The operatives were able to detain only 500 militants, two-thirds of which were later released. In 2010, in April, at the initiative of Russia, a UN Security Council resolution was adopted on the effective prosecution of piracy.
First sea battles
It is known that the medal for the fight against pirates of Somalia TFR "Undaunted" was awarded to many operatives. On March 4, 2003, sea gangsters attacked the Russian tanker Moneron, which was flying to Kenya from Saudi Arabia. Seven pirates in two motor boats chased the ship for about an hour, firing grenade launchers and machine guns.
On 160 November 2005, 160 km from the coast of Somalia, militants attacked the Siborn Spirit cruise ship, which was traveling from Alexandria to the Seychelles. It is known that in 2005 the pirates organized about 23 raids.
The battle with corsairs, in which two U.S. Navy ships (a destroyer and a missile cruiser) also took part, took place in 2006. This battle is considered the first naval battle of the XXI century. It should be added that the UN World Food Program chartered the Rosen bulk carrier, and in 2007 it was captured by pirates. In the same year, they detained a Japanese tanker.
2011 losses
In 2011, the Somali sea robbers caused damage of $ 6.6-6.9 billion. This can be found in the report of Oceans Beyond Piracy (a project of the American foundation One Earth Future).
year 2012
Somali pirates love taking pictures with trophies. In the Arabian Sea in 2012, May 10, they boarded the Greek tanker Smyrni, flying the flag of Liberia. He transported 135 thousand tons of crude oil.
Europeans for the first time in 2012, May 15, fired on pirates in the lands of Somalia. They launched a missile attack from the air: aircraft deployed on ships of the European Navy patrolling the Gulf of Aden participated in the operation. The commander of the combined forces of Europe in the region, Rear Admiral Potts Duncan, said that the shelling was targeted and there were no victims among the locals. Of the Europeans, no one was hurt either. Which country the aviation belonged to was not reported.
Thanks to the actions of the international coalition, from May 2012 to May 2013, the sea robbers did not manage to catch a single ship. The operation of the Putland maritime police special squad played an important role in the elimination of piracy. The forces of this organization destroyed ground bases of militants. After its creation, the corsairs had to leave on the Galmudug coast.
Economic impact
Damage to the activities of Somali pirates is increasing every year. The size of the foreclosures has increased significantly, they are interconnected with the size of the vessels caught. If earlier the amount did not exceed 400-500 thousand dollars, today it is already about 5 million.
