Good News from Somalia

Op-Ed by John Guy

Two conflicting pieces of news from Somalia. In the capital Mogadishu the second-ranking leader of Somalia’s pirate industry, Mohamed Garfanji, has been arrested on arms and piracy charges. That’s good news and evidence of the central government pushing out its disarmament campaign. Go north to the Somali region of Puntaland, where most of the piracy happens, and there is less good news. The self-elected government of Puntaland is reported to have cut ties with the central government because it disputes the boundaries of a new federal state system being established.

Piracy off the coast of Somalia is receding as a threat to international shipping as more and more ships arm themselves. But it will come back quickly when the navies fade away and shipowners get tired of the costs and disruption of having hired gunslingers on board. The only solution is the imposition of a rule of law across the whole region, and the generation of some economic activity which will give the young men who now act as pirate fodder, willingly or unwillingly, an opportunity to earn money legally.

That’s why the Puntaland dispute is bad news. Economic and political regeneration and development will kill off piracy. Political disputes over boundaries will hold both back. Until they get roads and markets and communications and power into Somalia’s coastal communities piracy will still be the way to earn big money. Arresting one or two of the big bosses who made their pile already won’t hold back the hungry young guns. So one cheer for arresting Garfanji, and more effort required to run a functional state please.

John Guy served on merchant ships and warships for sixteen years before becoming a ship inspector and then a journalist. He advises companies and organizations working in the global shipping industry on media and crisis management. His latest novel is The Golden Tide.