IMO welcomes UN piracy resolution with both hands

The recent adoption on June 2 by the United Nations of a resolution that authorises a series of physical measures aimed at eliminating acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships that transit waters off the coast of Somalia has been welcomed by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

The body had been making intensive efforts for more than two years to bring the matter to the attention of the Security Council and to urge concerted action, culminating in the adoption, last November, of a second IMO Assembly resolution on the subject.

Security Council Resolution 1816 effectively authorises foreign countries to use "all necessary means" to combat piracy along the Somali coast.

In praising the Security Council resolution, IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos said that firm action had been needed since the situation was stifling the flow of much-needed aid to the people of Somalia, jeopardising the lives of innocent seafarers, fishers and passengers, and adversely affecting international trade.

Mitropoulos said, "I am very pleased with the outcome which I consider a positive step in the right direction, and want to thank all Governments who worked hard on the draft and all those who supported the resolution in its final form, as well as the UN Secretary-General for his personal contribution to the end result."

The UN resolution was in direct consequence of last November's IMO resolution that appealed directly to the TFG. Most significantly it asked the TFG to advise the UN Security Council that, in response to a previous request from the IMO Council, of June 2007, it consented to warships or military aircraft entering its territorial sea when engaging in operations against pirates or suspected pirates and armed robbers.

Offshore insecurity

In addition, in view of the worsening humanitarian situation in Somalia, the new IMO resolution also asked the TFG to advise the Security Council of its readiness to conclude any necessary agreements so as to enable warships or military aircraft to escort ships employed by the WFP for the delivery of humanitarian aid to Somalia or leaving Somali ports after having discharged their cargo.

In contrast to the statement made by the IMO, a spokesman for the Islamic Courts last week accused the policies of the UN and Western countries as being the root cause of the surge in attacks.

Mahmoud Shaikh Ebrahim Suley told Mogadishu media, "This decision is backed by Western nations whose agenda is to steal Somalia's land and sea resources." He alleged the UN and "western countries" were strengthening offshore insecurity because when in power the Islamic Courts had deterred piracy, but the UN allowed the Ethiopian attack, thus exacerbating the piracy problem.

There is no doubt that since the removal of the Islamic Courts regime in south-central Somalia, there has been a progressive deterioration in the offshore security situation and it is ironic that the western-backed ousting of a regime that was able to keep piracy in check should then be seen the cause of the recent increase that is now causing such concern to the west. Furthermore, there is also no doubt that during the brief tenure of the Islamic Courts between June and December 2006, piracy in these waters did reach an all-time low that was then immediately reversed.

However, whatever any knock-on effect of the regime change and despite the comments made by Mahmoud Shaikh Ebrahim Suley, it must now be remembered that the Security Council resolution was adopted with the full consent of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, which itself lacks the capacity to interdict pirates or patrol and secure its territorial waters. It is believed that at the present time, two foreign-owned vessels are being held by Somali pirates who demand million dollar ransoms from the ship owners concerned.

- The writer is a maritime consultant based in Dubai.