Regional group launches fresh war on piracy in the Gulf of Aden

By Patrick Beja

After two major meetings to unite regional countries against piracy in the Gulf of Aden, the menace remains a hard nut to crack.

The first meeting in Mombasa, recommended among other things, hastening the search for political solutions to problems in Somalia, as a prelude to ending piracy.

The second conference in Mauritius adopted the formation of a new organisation, to bring other stakeholders from the Indian Ocean to harmonise responses to the crisis.

South Asia and Africa Regional Port Security Co-operative will be a strategic body to launch a fresh war on piracy.

According to the Mombasa-based Port Management Association of Eastern and Southern Africa (Pmaesa), the new group brings together countries from Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

Anti-piracy strategy

"This is an issue that affects most countries because of the global nature of shipping and other maritime activities, hence the wide representation," said Mr Jerome Ntibarekerwa , Pmaesa secretary general. Pmaesa, Southern Africa Development Co-operation and US Coast Guard have been collaborating in coming up with the new anti-piracy strategy.

Mauritius Ports Authority and the US Coast hosted the second piracy conference that brought together senior policy and decision makers to discuss global port security challenges. The conference was attended by representatives from Kenya, Mauritius, India, Seychelles, Japan, Bangladesh, Italy, Reunion, Mayotte, Madagascar and the United States of America. The US Coast Guard and the UN Office for Somalia, both consistently involved in seeking a solution to the crisis in the Horn of Africa have partnered with the Pmaesa secretariat.

Any obstacles that will interfere with ports efficiencies would lead to significant negative economic effects.