Piracy solution is new Somali navy, says ambassador

The Somali ambassador to China urged the international community yesterday to help Somalia build up its own navy, as it would offer a "final solution" to fight the rampant¹ piracy².

In an interview with China Daily, Mohammed Awil questioned the effects of the international joint³ mission to guard the Gulf⁴ of Aden and the Indian Ocean, one of the world's busiest waterways.

"Piracy is a mosquito," Awil said, while noting what the international community has been doing - having international joint forces patrolling there - is like "sending elephants to kill mosquitoes".

Apart from combating piracy, Awil said a Somali navy would also help curb⁵ illegal fishing and dumping, two other major problems his country is faced with in the waters.

Pirate gangs operating along Somalia's 3,100-km coastline have become increasingly audacious over the past two years, hijacking⁶ dozens of merchant ships and their crews to earn ransoms⁷ that can top $1 million per ship, according to media reports.

Since late last year, more than 20 warships⁸ have been patrolling the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.

But a spokeswoman for the US 5th Fleet said recently that at least 60 warships are needed to guard the gulf.

As a response, Awil said a big international presence would do little to resolve the problem, as "some members of the international community are passive (to join the mission)".

"They don't care," Awil said, noting that's why ships are still being hijacked⁹ this month even though international joint forces are patrolling the region.

Irresponsible patrolling "is encouraging pirates to attack more vessels¹⁰. They are not afraid. It's like they have a green light to capture more ships," Awil said, but refused to specify¹¹ which countries were irresponsible.

He only listed vessels from France, China, India and the Netherlands as those doing the best jobs in Somali waters.

"The final solution is for the international community to help build up Somalia's own responsibility over its waters," he said.

Awil noted¹² his home country has well-trained personnel, so what they need is mainly fast and better boats.

But the diplomat¹³ also said he thought the international community lacks the solidarity¹⁴ to help his country build up its own navy, as some countries have an interest in keeping illegal fishing and dumping there.

Allegations of the dumping of toxic¹⁵ waste, as well as illegal fishing, have circulated since the early 1990s, according to Al Jazeera, the English version of the Arabic-language news network.