17 November 2009 - PIRACY ON THE RISE OFF SOMALIA – A “LONG-TERM REGIONAL SOLUTION” IS NEEDED SAYS EXPERT

He said that this comprehensive approach should promote a “long-term regional solution” by “assisting states of the region to build the capacity to tackle piracy and other regional security challenges on their own”.    This regional capacity could “eventually replace NATO at sea” in the area, added Vice Admiral Hans-Jochen Witthauer, Deputy Commander of the NATO’s Allied Maritime Component Command in Northwood, UK. 

Over 168 incidents of piracy were reported off Somalia in the first nine months of 2009 compared to 111 over the whole year of 2008, said Lord Jopling.  Although most of these attacks were repelled, 533 hostages have nonetheless been taken in 2009 so far, of which 150 are still held by the pirates, and the level of the ransoms they demand continues to rise.  Lord Jopling also stressed that “the international naval presence has undeniably had a deterrent effect”.

The lack of viable economic alternatives in Somalia was raised by David Scott of the US delegation, who pointed out that “there is no future for young people” in the country.  He argued that the international community could contribute resources in conjunction with Kenya and the African Union.  Vice Admiral Witthauer added that an improved Somali coastguard would also contribute to maritime security in the region, although he praised the Somali efforts overall. 

Witthauer, expressed his belief that “the legal framework is lagging  behind reality” and needs to be adapted, in particular in the application of the UN convention on the law of the sea.  “We still haven’t found the best way” of transposing international law to the national level, he said.   This was backed up by Joao Rebelo of the Portuguese delegation, who confirmed that his country’s legislation prevents them from trying pirates arrested on the open seas.  Lord Jopling encouraged NATO to look to the EU’s example of transferring arrested pirates to Kenya for trial. He also pointed out that the resources of Kenya ’s courts are reaching their limits, and suggested that “the creation of an international tribunal might be necessary as a solution of last resort”.

The UK ’s Sir John Stanley enquired as to whether contributing nations place caveats on their forces’ activities, or whether ship-owners obstruct the efforts of the security forces.  Witthauer replied that the major constraint is the size of the area they have to patrol, not the extent of cooperation. “It is like patrolling France with five police cars”, he said.  

He added that NATO Task Force 508 (the name given to the group of NATO vessels currently on duty off Somalia ) needs more medical support, helicopters and qualified linguists.  The issue of storming hijacked vessels was nonetheless seen as problematic, with many countries unwilling to sanction direct military action against pirates holding any of their nationals hostage. 

Increased aerial surveillance was mentioned as one tool in addressing the challenge of the sheer size of the area of operations.  The Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin, where the majority of attacks occur, cover between them over two million square kilometers.  Several delegates raised the possibility of unmanned reconnaissance aircraft or drones.  Rear Admiral Peter Hudson indicated that satellites are already in use, in particular for tracking pirate vessels.  He also raised the possibility of using AWACS to support aerial reconnaissance in the future.  These Advanced Warning and Control Systems consist of sophisticated long-range detection and communications equipment, usually mounted on a Boeing 747 aircraft.  Hudson is currently Operation Commander of the Naval Force Atalanta, the EU’s naval mission against the pirates in the area. 

While no link between Somali pirates and Al Qaeda has yet been demonstrated conclusively, said Lord Jopling, there is growing concern about the strength of the Al Shabaab movement and alleged links with other fundamentalist groups.   Rear Admiral Hudson said he believes “the jury is still out” on the question of whether the money from piracy directly supports terrorism.  Interpol is investigating this, he said.    Vice Admiral Witthauer was equally cautious, pointing out that NATO has no intelligence-gathering measures of its own and relies on information from Member States.