Monday, December 07, 2009
Business is booming. They began with 15 “maritime companies” and now host 72. “Everybody can take part, whether personally at sea or on land by providing cash, weapons or useful materials,” a former pirate said.
The exchange is in Haradheere, 400km northeast of Mogadishu, where the administration of President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed has no influence.
Like all stock markets, there are losers; but in this case the loss is not just financial. The exchange is a regular haunt of grieving women seeking news of male relatives missing in action.
But there are winners too. Reuters spoke to one woman who said: “I am waiting for my share after I contributed a rocket-propelled grenade.” She was given the weapon as alimony.
A remarkable and creepy story. Yet it’s not as odd as you might expect. Hong Kong began as a depot in the opium trade to China.
Source: Business Day