It's cold out here, but a fiery pit is churning over there.

Piracy, according to the United Nations Conventions Law of the Sea of 1982, consists of any criminal acts of violence, detention, or depredation committed for private ends by the crew or the passengers of a private ship or aircraft that is directed on the high seas against another ship, aircraft, or against persons or property on board a ship or aircraft.

According to Webster, piracy is an act of robbery on the high sea.

In Somalia, Africa, there has been a surge of what the media has dubbed 'pirate attacks.' The extent of these attacks is limited to the sea, but they set high hopes for what they set out to attain in the waters. The so-called attacks have plagued the Somalian coast and the Gulf of Aden since the beginning of the early nineties, with an extensive history and a purpose, these Africans are a perfect example of resistance to the imperial advance.


The individuals called pirates now are the remnants of what used to be the warriors of Somalia's Siad Barre government. After being ousted from power, Siad Barre was driven to the southern regions of the country, where he and his supporters stayed until the early nineties. Since then, Southern Somalia has been affected the worst in the country as far as being stricken by war, poverty, and famine. Siad Barre's regime is the last cohesive governmental unit Somalia has known. Economist and Associate Professor of Economics at George Mason University, Alex Tabarrok, comments:

Somalia continues to provide a unique test of the theory of anarchy (competitive governments) promoted by David Friedman, Murrary Rothbard and others (I just thought that was interesting, but I don't care to elaborate).

In early 2006, a conflict snsued between an alliance of Mogadishu warlords known as the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism, or ARPCT, and a militia loyal to the Islamic Courts Union, or ICU, seeking to institute Sharia law in Somalia. Foreign troops were brought in for intervention with much protest. The general feeling that among all of the possible troops to send in, the Ethiopians were the least likely to present an image of hope. Ethiopia and Somalia's history, which is rocky in more places than one, created an even bigger problem and a harder drive for the Islamist forces who are opposed to the transitional government.

Nevertheless, the clans that fell into the south after the breaking up of Somalia's government are now wreaking havoc in the surrounding seas. What initially began as a domination of a means of survival in a poverty-stricken land grew into a mulit-million dollar operation. The over 90 different ships that have been affected have brought international attention to the so called pirates for many reasons. Their most recent acquisition, however, has heightened their perceived threat. The Sirius Star, an oil tanker owned by Saudis, is reported to hold 110 million dollars worth of crude oil in the cargo.

The amazing thing about this situation is that, despite all of the fear that people are allowing to circulate in reference to the groups, the truth is quite obvious.

Daybad spoke to the BBC Somali Service via telephone from the Sirius Star, which is being held off the Somali coast.

He said that the ship's crew were being treated humanely.

"They are fine. We are treating them according to the charter of how you treat prisoners of war," he said.

"They are allowed to contact their families. The crew are not prisoners, they can move from place to place, wherever they want to, they can even sleep on their usual beds and they have their own keys."

"The only thing they are missing is their freedom to leave the ship," he added.

Daybad said that "no company" had yet made contact with the pirates, only people claiming to be intermediaries.

"These are people who cannot be trusted. We don't want to make contact with anyone who we can't trust," he said.

"We captured the ship for ransom, of course, but we don't have anybody reliable to talk to directly about it."

Daybad said that once genuine negotiations began they would seek "the usual asking price" but denied reports that they had been asking for a ransom of up to $25m (£16.6m).

"That doesn't exist, there is nothing of the sort and we are warning radio stations and other people about broadcasting these unreliable stories," he said.

Daybad said the pirates were fully aware of the consequences of their actions, but the lack of peace in Somalia and the plunder of its waters by foreign fishing trawlers had driven them to piracy.

"Our fish were all eradicated so we can't fish now so we're going to fish whatever passes through our sea because we need to eat.

Daybad refers to a Saudi pirate who spoke with the BBC.

There are now European Union ships patrolling the area to ensure the safety of tankers travelling in the area. Arab forces are joining together to devise a strategy to alleviate the issue and quiet the perceived naval disturbance.

Somalia, despite all of this, has the lowest HIV rate in all of Africa. Their dedicated observance of Islamic law has contributed to the statistic. In addition, their history is intertwined with that of the Sub-Saharan African Kingdom of Aksum who was once ruled by the very same Queen Sheba who loved King Solomon, creating Menelik.

It is clearly obvious that there is an international misunderstanding of what is going on. As a result of the imperialist influence on the culture, situation, and environment of the Somalis, they have been driven to theivery as a means to an end. Although the area has always been quite arid and a poor place for vegetation, the rich cultural history, intelligence, and overall potential of any people (especially an African people) should never be underestimated.

They are aware, clearly as they have publicly stated, that they are completely aware of what they are doing, just as the young Black warrior deep in the trenches of the trap is aware of his lifestyle. However, pragmatically, the progessive spirit that could have been applied to a greater good with efficient solidarity, is being used for simple survival. While there are others who have their entire lives handed to them for being born into the families they are born into, there is no compassion and understanding for others who do not fall into that demographic.

Yes, he may be in jail for murder, but is he not your brother? Was he not socialized to limit his alternatives and to endure his environment. Was his prison not fashioned especially for him and his own? I do not feel that the so-called Arab world, especially not Egypt (You're African, whether you like it or not, imbecile!), should be devising plans to better themselves. They should recognize the threat that a lack of Eastern cohesion brings.

It's not about getting along, it's about getting by. If your brother is going to eat, then you will too. There will be a few battles, but that is necessary in the case of difference of personality in this new day of individualism and singularity. Scratches and bruises create strength, the lack of knowledge of difference begets weakness. Africans, with their so-called 'rites of passage,' should be more aware of such concepts than most.

It's cold out here, but a fiery pit is churning over there. There is so much internal strife in African-descended groups that it is mind-bending. And to think that the original environment of these people fostered brotherhood, humility, and love. . . . .

Support the Somalis, I say. Not because of their main focus, but because of what they represent. Because of the truth that they display and because of lesson that they teach. No, it is not right to steal from others. But, similarly it is not just to attempt to colonize an area, fail, and leave it to fend for itself after the interference (covert and overt) has created such a state of chaos that life itself is a question every day.

Understand your brothers, I say. Know why and sympathize. Right is right and wrong is wrong, but rationalizing and contextual comprehension surpasses such things.

From November Photojournal

"The town's residents are more concerned about the apparent dumping of toxic waste than piracy.
You know, our problem is not piracy. It is illegal dumping.

These problems have been going for sometime and the world knows about it. The Americans have been here in the region for a long time now - they know about the pollution.

Instead, no, the world is only talking about the pirates and the money involved...

"Meanwhile, there has been something else going on and it has been going on for years. There are many dumpings made in our sea, so much rubbish. It is dumped in our seas and it washes up on our coastline and spreads into our area.

"The people who have these symptoms are the ones who wake early, before it is light, and herd their livestock to the shore to graze. The animals are sick from drinking the water and the people who washed in the water are now suffering.

We are people who live in a very remote town and here, we are isolated; we only rely on God.

This town is close to the sea. It is a very old town which has a mixture of Somali clans. It is not big but it has a well-knit community.

Our community used to rely on fishing. But now no-one fishes. You see, a lot of foreign ships were coming and they were fishing heavily - their big nets would wipe out everything, even the fishermen's equipment. They could not compete.

So the people here began farming and keeping greater numbers of livestock. Like in any other Somali town, all one can do is rely on oneself.

But now we have these medical hazards.

What can we do about it?


- Ex-Somali Army Colonel Mohamed Nureh Abdull.