UN: Solving piracy issue needs more than warships

Piracy off the coast of Somalia was outpacing international efforts to stem it, B. Lynn Pascoe, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, told the Security Council on November 9, emphasising that warships alone will not solve the problem.

Briefing the Council on the situation in Somalia, Mr. Pascoe said: “We need to continue to fight this battle in the broadest manner, focusing simultaneously on deterrence, security and the rule of law, as well as providing economic alternatives for Somali youth. We must also make piracy and robbery off the coast of Somalia costly by addressing impunity and building the capacity of the Transitional Federal Government to expand its authority and deal with law and order.”

Presenting the Secretary-General’s report on the situation in Somalia (, he described the numbers as “appalling”, citing International Maritime Organisation (IMO) reports that more than 438 seafarers and passengers as well as 20 ships were held by pirates as of November 4, an increase of almost 100 kidnapping victims in less than a month.

Pirates were also taking greater risks and seeking higher ransoms, he said, recalling that just a few days ago, pirates had “brazenly” attacked a European Union warship escorting supplies for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

The assault had been mounted from a large freighter, itself seized about a month ago, he said, pointing out that such actions continued to have serious effects on regional economies and those of the wider world. (Source: Baird Maritime)

The United Nations, the International Contact Group on Somalia and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) were working to develop Somali capacity to deal with piracy on land and in close in-shore waters, he said, adding that the effort was linked to others aimed at developing the justice and security sectors. Strengthening the police and establishing a coast guard, or coastal monitoring capability, should be an integral part of the debate on piracy, he noted.

Somali security institutions must also be provided with predictable funding. Piracy was also very much an economic issue, he said, stressing that the Somali people, especially the youth, needed greater incentives not to succumb to the lure of the pirate economy. To that end, economic rehabilitation and alternative livelihoods were needed, particularly the rehabilitation of coastal fisheries. (Source: Baird Maritime)

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