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Alfonso Lpez Mendoza

Case Analysis: The Case of Piracy in Somalia


International Logistics
UPAEP
Summer 2014

The official name is Federal Republic of
Somalia, is a country located in Africa. It is
bordered with Kenya, xEthiopia, Djibouti, the
Gulf of Aden, and the Indian Ocean.
Some of the principal problems in Somalia
are the wars between several countries,
because they are poorly drawn borders. To
this conflicts, are added the civil wars, droughts, and famines this causes
thousands of deaths annually.
Entering the issue of civil wars specifically, has killed more than 350,000 people, all
for a struggle for power.
Other factors that affect the stability of the country is the corruption, lack of
democracy, lack of respect, lack of human rights, terrorism, the weapons, poverty,
slow development,
Somalia has been affected by a lack of security. But nowadays, there is hope to
regain tranquility and settle the places around there. Is important to world maritime
trade, but for Europe is even more important because the oil trade, and trades with
Asia.
But the waters surrounding Africa are not only important for trades, also are
important to fishing, in that places is the 40% of the demand of the Spanish
canning industry.
Entering to the issue of piracy, this phenomenon emerged in the 90's as a
defensive reaction to fishing in national waters. It starts to evolve, and looks as a
very nice business to the local people, but that harms the global maritime traffic. In
2007, the level of piracy in that country acquired an alarming 3increase; this
problem has increased until 2011. Amounts paid kidnapping for ransom amounted
to nearly $10 million USD, approximately piracy amounted to about 7,000 million
dollars per year.
There are many efforts from many countries, mainly in Europe, and the U.S. to
recover the Horn of Africa, to stabilize the area to safely transport without
problems.

Alfonso Lpez Mendoza
Case Analysis: The Case of Piracy in Somalia
International Logistics
UPAEP
Summer 2014

In April 15
th
, 1995, an office was established called Political Office for Somalia, the
goal was to promote peace and reconciliation entirely by civil organizations would,
Somali leaders and countries concerned.
Also there is an organization called UNPOS United Nations Political Office for
Somalia, plays a fundamental role in the
coordination of efforts for the
development of Somali security sector.
Entering the issue of piracy on May,
2008, the UN Security Council, votes to
allow countries to send warships into
Somalias waters, to take out pirates.
There is a movie that deals with this
subject, is called Captain Phillips, which
is a true story. Richard Philips is a good father, and captain of a ship, which was
hijacked in the Indian Ocean by Somali pirates. He decides to put his life at stake,
to save the crew, all because of a series of negotiations, and struggles with the
assailants, in the end, the ship and crew are released, but he was kidnapped.
On the three weeks before this happens, there was 16 ships that were attacked by
pirates, and on the 50% of the attacks, the pirates took
hostages. Captain Phillips knew of the situation, he
received emails that warning of the danger that was
approaching Somali territory.
As we know, piracy is a very dangerous situation
because if you do not cooperate, they can kill you, or
they can take off your hand or something like that,
That problem I think that is very difficult to resolve, because I think the piracy
comes from corrupt government posts, they give to the pirates the facilities to move
around Somalias waters, maybe they give them the weapons, or the government
hel the pirates to get radars, may they helps them to build their boats, I am just
assuming that.


Alfonso Lpez Mendoza
Case Analysis: The Case of Piracy in Somalia
International Logistics
UPAEP
Summer 2014

Finally, I have different possible solutions.
1. My first solution could be to let introduce weapons on the ship, to defend
against pirates.
Pros
You can defend against de pirates, that means that you are not
disadvantaged.
If the pirates attack, you know how to defend yourself and the crew.
Cons
You have to have permission to use the weapon
You need to train the crew to use weapons

2. Another solution I proposed, is to make like a panic room, that means that if
you have an emergency you go to that room, and automatically, an alarm is
send to the authorities.
Pros
Your crew is going to be in safe.
You can save all the important things, or the most value objects on
that room.
Cons
You have to ensure all your ships that have to pass on those waters.
To the crew should be very uncomfortable.

3. Request more security by the U.S. Navy, and European police to have more
control of such a dangerous area.
Pros
If your ship is not ensuring, you can be sure that the security
authorities are protecting you.
The security is going to move around all those waters to guarantee
your security.
Cons
That request would have to be signed by most of the companies
engaged in international trade, so, it can be complicated gathering
signatures soon.
Maybe that recommendation should take a long time.
Alfonso Lpez Mendoza
Case Analysis: The Case of Piracy in Somalia
International Logistics
UPAEP
Summer 2014

It should be noted that all companies reject the idea to deal with the pirates, that is,
avoid giving money for kidnapping, for so, to avoid increasing the number of ship
hijackings in Somalia.
In my personal opinion, I should recommend, the solution number 2, because I
think that is the best way to protect human lifes, the crew. I think that the material
come and past, but if you are dead you cannot do nothing.
Finally, I concluded that the piracy is a problem that you have to cut from root, if
the government is involved in cases of corruption, they have to be fired and how to
jail, also another important fact here is that piracy will not end from one day to
another, it will take time to lower the odds of kidnappings, taking the most
appropriate action, as we know, the numbers of kidnappings in Somalia, have been
decreasing, if we keep carrying just the most compelling solutions, decreasing able
to eradicate.


Source
http://www.abc.es/cultura/cine/20131017/abci-capitan-phillips-captain-mentira-
201310161929.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktPd8Xsr1PY
http://unpos.unmissions.org/
http://www.un.org/es/sc/repertoire/subsidiary_organs/special_political_complete.sh
tml
http://www.ieee.es/Galerias/fichero/docs_opinion/2013/DIEEEO12-
2012_SomaliaCuernoAfrica_Encrucijada_Martin-Peralta.pdf
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/somalia/105823
60/Somali-pirates-hijack-first-ship-since-2012.html

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