Lloyd's List
by Lloyds List Comment
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
Whatever the wider political impact of the advancing Islamist insurgent groups, the international shipping industry might take some encouragement from reported statements by the Islamist insurgents that they want to put an end to piracy and impose shariah law in the expanding areas they control.
Certainly, the last time Islamists were in control under the Islamic Courts Union, piracy emanating from Somalia virtually ceased. It only started again when Ethiopian forces, backed by the US, ousted the Islamic Courts Union in 2006.
The replacement interim, UN-backed government in Somalia has limited control over certain parts of the country. The resulting anarchy has given free rein to pirates to grow their lucrative business.
Despite the insurgents’ claims that they want to end piracy, there is a danger that the huge financial rewards being reaped by the pirates from ransom payments could prove too tempting. Indeed, there have been suggestions that some of these funds are finding their way to terrorist groups, including some linked to Al Qaeda.
In reality, this latest development merely underlines the fact that the risks of piracy from Somali groups will only end when some measure of political stability and order returns to the beleaguered country. And there is no sign of that happening any time soon.
Source: Lloyd's List