Medeshi Nov 27, 2008
Saudi Arabia and Somali Pirates, the fight between friends
Many readers will wonder the relation between Saudi Arabia and Somali Pirates, and how can they be friends. The answer is very simple; it needs close examination of Saudi relations with Somali warlords and Transitional Government of Somalia (TGS).
The history of Somali pirates goes back to 1998, after TGS President Abdullah Yusuf established the tribe-based semi-autonomous and illegitimate region of "Puntland", where human-trafficking, piracy and illegal weapons trade is most lucrative business. "Puntland" administration signed illegal contracts with Mafia to dump nuclear toxic wastes in the Somalia water.
Human-traffickers force the migrants into the sea of Gulf of Aden, only after crossing into Yemen water. The migrants pay between $50 and $100 per head to be smuggled into Yemen. Reuters says the human-traffickers carry large number of migrants in small wooden boat intended to carry lighter cargo.
Starting from 1998 until today, the illegitimate administration of "Puntland" violates international rules including human rights violation. The human-traffickers freely sail off Bossasso Port, main hub of "Puntland", with full support from the authorities because high-ranking officials of "Puntland" take loin´s share in the trafficking money. International community raised concern over the illegal activities in "Puntland".
The human-traffickers upgraded to pirates with support of "Puntland" administration and TGS President Abdullah Yusuf. Xasan Abshir, current candidate for "Puntland" President Post, is well-known spokesman for pirates who hijacked the French Ship.
The piracy business is easy money; the pirates enter the sea and hijack freely, and receive millions of dollars as ransom money. This is how the piracy in Somalia works; there is no authority to arrest them instead they get support from "Puntland" administration. Somali authorities show crocodile tear over the hijacking due to international pressure but the business remains booming.
At the end of the day, they receive $40 million in less than a month. This is dream come true because the ransom money is much more than National Budget.
TGS President Yusuf appointed sensitive and important posts in TGS government to his follow tribesmen from "Puntland", in order to keep the piracy business running and show mercy to outside world. Yusuf´s henchmen committed human rights abuses in Mogadishu including rape, indiscriminate killing and displacement.
UK Channel 4, reported story under title "Warlord, Next Door Step" and unveiled many undercover stories including the killing of the innocent in Mogadishu. The world remains silent over such organized crimes.
Saudi Arabia poured millions of dollars into the hands TGS and "Puntland" officials including Yusuf, like $32 million one shot payment in 2007. Saudi Arabia builds the muscles of these criminals, and financially encourages them to expand their illegal operations. Such support led Yusuf and his henchmen to upgrade the human-traffickers to pirates. Saudi Arabia cannot guarantee how these millions will be used.
Saudi Arabia failed to pressure the TGS to stop the genocide and displacement in Mogadishu as per international human rights reports, instead continue supporting the TGS financially and diplomatically until today without investigating the truth in Mogadishu. Today, Ethiopia discovered the true face of Yusuf and planning to drop him and henchmen out.
The current hijacked Saudi oil tanker by Somali pirates is fire-back to Saudi Arabia. News agencies reported that tanker is laden with large quantity of crude oil worth millions of dollars. Arab proverb says, "Who brings lion into his home, looses his children to the wild." Today, Saudi Arabia is loosing business to the monsters it created in Somalia.
There is high possibility of TGS and "Puntland" involvement in the hijack to get more money from Saudi Arabia, but this time by force. Now, it is time for Saudi Arabia to understand the criminals inside Somalia.
Even, Saudi Arabia helped "Puntland" administration in signing Oil Exploration Contracts with Arab Countries including Dubai based Asian companies.
Saudi Arabia and Arab countries, believe that united Somalia can only secure their interests in the horn of Africa and Gulf of Aden, but it is wrong ideology. The free people of Somaliland can fill up the vacuum left by failed "Puntland" and Southern Somalia. Because Somaliland is fully capable to chase out the pirates and clear the sea from the illegal activities like piracy and human-trafficking.
The World including Arab leaders should open their eyes widely to understand the reality in Somalia, and understand that unity comes with acceptance of all concerned parties. Today, Somaliland established entire democratic state infrastructure and nothing exists in Somalia. So the question is, should the world deal and support gang of criminals like TGS or democratically elected government like Somaliland.
By Abdulaziz Al-Mutairi
The history of Somali pirates goes back to 1998, after TGS President Abdullah Yusuf established the tribe-based semi-autonomous and illegitimate region of "Puntland", where human-trafficking, piracy and illegal weapons trade is most lucrative business. "Puntland" administration signed illegal contracts with Mafia to dump nuclear toxic wastes in the Somalia water.
Human-traffickers force the migrants into the sea of Gulf of Aden, only after crossing into Yemen water. The migrants pay between $50 and $100 per head to be smuggled into Yemen. Reuters says the human-traffickers carry large number of migrants in small wooden boat intended to carry lighter cargo.
Starting from 1998 until today, the illegitimate administration of "Puntland" violates international rules including human rights violation. The human-traffickers freely sail off Bossasso Port, main hub of "Puntland", with full support from the authorities because high-ranking officials of "Puntland" take loin´s share in the trafficking money. International community raised concern over the illegal activities in "Puntland".
The human-traffickers upgraded to pirates with support of "Puntland" administration and TGS President Abdullah Yusuf. Xasan Abshir, current candidate for "Puntland" President Post, is well-known spokesman for pirates who hijacked the French Ship.
The piracy business is easy money; the pirates enter the sea and hijack freely, and receive millions of dollars as ransom money. This is how the piracy in Somalia works; there is no authority to arrest them instead they get support from "Puntland" administration. Somali authorities show crocodile tear over the hijacking due to international pressure but the business remains booming.
At the end of the day, they receive $40 million in less than a month. This is dream come true because the ransom money is much more than National Budget.
TGS President Yusuf appointed sensitive and important posts in TGS government to his follow tribesmen from "Puntland", in order to keep the piracy business running and show mercy to outside world. Yusuf´s henchmen committed human rights abuses in Mogadishu including rape, indiscriminate killing and displacement.
UK Channel 4, reported story under title "Warlord, Next Door Step" and unveiled many undercover stories including the killing of the innocent in Mogadishu. The world remains silent over such organized crimes.
Saudi Arabia poured millions of dollars into the hands TGS and "Puntland" officials including Yusuf, like $32 million one shot payment in 2007. Saudi Arabia builds the muscles of these criminals, and financially encourages them to expand their illegal operations. Such support led Yusuf and his henchmen to upgrade the human-traffickers to pirates. Saudi Arabia cannot guarantee how these millions will be used.
Saudi Arabia failed to pressure the TGS to stop the genocide and displacement in Mogadishu as per international human rights reports, instead continue supporting the TGS financially and diplomatically until today without investigating the truth in Mogadishu. Today, Ethiopia discovered the true face of Yusuf and planning to drop him and henchmen out.
The current hijacked Saudi oil tanker by Somali pirates is fire-back to Saudi Arabia. News agencies reported that tanker is laden with large quantity of crude oil worth millions of dollars. Arab proverb says, "Who brings lion into his home, looses his children to the wild." Today, Saudi Arabia is loosing business to the monsters it created in Somalia.
There is high possibility of TGS and "Puntland" involvement in the hijack to get more money from Saudi Arabia, but this time by force. Now, it is time for Saudi Arabia to understand the criminals inside Somalia.
Even, Saudi Arabia helped "Puntland" administration in signing Oil Exploration Contracts with Arab Countries including Dubai based Asian companies.
Saudi Arabia and Arab countries, believe that united Somalia can only secure their interests in the horn of Africa and Gulf of Aden, but it is wrong ideology. The free people of Somaliland can fill up the vacuum left by failed "Puntland" and Southern Somalia. Because Somaliland is fully capable to chase out the pirates and clear the sea from the illegal activities like piracy and human-trafficking.
The World including Arab leaders should open their eyes widely to understand the reality in Somalia, and understand that unity comes with acceptance of all concerned parties. Today, Somaliland established entire democratic state infrastructure and nothing exists in Somalia. So the question is, should the world deal and support gang of criminals like TGS or democratically elected government like Somaliland.
By Abdulaziz Al-Mutairi
