Abdullah calls for empowering Somali youth

Shaikh Abdullah speaks at the counter-piracy conference in Dubai on Wednesday. -KT photo by Juidin Bernarrd

By Shafaat Shahbandari
Thursday, October 30, 2014

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DUBAI — With the shipping routes off the coast of Somalia relatively secure from pirate attacks, the focus of the international community should turn to building the economy of Somalia and other Horn of Africa nations, said Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Foreign Minister as he opened the fourth Counter-Piracy conference in Dubai on Wednesday.

Around 600 delegates, including foreign ministers of various countries as well as top diplomats, naval officers and industry leaders gathered on Wednesday for the two-day annual conference in Dubai.

In his opening address, Shaikh Abdullah lauded the efforts of the international community in tackling piracy, in particular the initiatives of the Contact Group on Piracy off the coast of Somalia, of which the UAE is an active member.

“UAE wants to underline the importance of regional and international cooperation in fighting the root causes of piracy and tackling other related issues such as terrorism that is devastating the region. Tackling the root causes requires confronting instability on land,” said Shaikh Abdullah.

Calling on the international community to address the core issues, Shaikh Abdullah said: “The situation demands sustained international efforts to build the local government, empower youth through creating jobs and establish local law enforcement capacities.”

He pledged renewed support from the UAE in counter-piracy efforts in the sea as well as in nation-building initiatives inside Somalia.

UAE is a co-chair of the Working Group on Maritime Counter-Piracy Mitigation Operations along with Seychelles and Japan. The group is taking intensified measures to prosecute offenders in close cooperation with the Regional Anti-Piracy Prosecuters Intelligence Coordination Centre.

In his opening statement, Sultan Ahmad Bin Sulayem, Chairman of DP World, which co-hosted the conference, reiterated the port operator’s support in creating jobs and setting up maritime facilities in Somalia.

Around 70 per cent of Somali population is below the age of 30, but poverty and lack of proper livelihood opportunities are forcing the youth to take up arms or join the pirates.

In his keynote address, Somalia’s Foreign Minister Dr Abdirahman Duale Beyle highlighted the ground realities in his country and emphasised the importance of continued international support to root out piracy and terrorism.

“Creating livelihoods for youngsters is as important as building state institutions like judiciary. Bright and young Somali people are being enticed by people with vested interests and poverty and lack of opportunities is forcing the youth to go on a wrong path,” said Dr Beyle.

Apart from piracy, the challenges that face Somalia is terrorism represented by groups like Al Shabab, who are bent on destroying the country, said Dr Beyle.

Lauding the efforts of the UAE and the role the counter-piracy conference is playing in addressing the issue, he added: “UAE is leading the fight against piracy and this conference has been a right platform in highlighting and addressing the issues faced by Somalia. We thank everyone for the efforts and ask for continued support because the pirates are down but they are not yet out.”

As many as 37 seafarers are still in the captivity of pirates but the number of pirate attacks in the Horn of Africa region has reduced drastically over the last three years.

In 2011, 176 pirate attacks were registered and 700 seafarers from 60 ships were held captive.

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