Somalia is one of the 'darkest' parts of the Continent in that the white colonial powers of what is now predominantly the Western World, wouldn’t dare touch. It is one of most volatile, fractious despots in the world. Not even the impervious Chinese will engage. But where the waters are concerned, Somalian pirates have reigned its waters for the last five years.
It wasn’t until this week when an American was ransacked that America took notice.
And the pirate jokes ensued. To the contrary of popular presumption, these pirates are well-organised. Don’t be mistaken by the dinghies they sneak up in. They have taken on ships of extraordinary size and have rarely been defeated in their ransoms, sparing every prisoner.
But wasn’t it Somalia who laughed at America by scorning its occupation in the haunting symbolic act of dragging a soldier through the streets of Mogadishu...
What moralists completely overlook is that when there is no law and no outside authority can subvert ultimately what is living chaos, then factions and insurrections grow. On land, Islamic militants pillage. Ethnic minorities have been pushed out. The enclave of Somaliland has been capsized. Ethiopia closes its borders. And when there is no mineral or resource to exploit, not even food to be eaten, then other measures are taken.
These pirates are using the only bargaining chip they have in what is in effect, a desperate attempt to gain some leverage from nothing, from hell. A means that is daring and life-threatening but the possible gains are so great and evidently, realistic, that this is a risk worth taking. And being a pirate, is no easy occupation.
In the minds of Somalians, pirates are the pariahs.
