Piracy has brought international attention to Somalia, more than the humanitarian crisis that has existed for years. I dont want to diminish the serious threat it poses to intenrational economic stability, but the piracy issue is being approached backwards.
Pundits and "professionals" of all stripes are claiming piracy must be stopped, but few people care to look on land- where the "pirates" live- to figure out why they do what they do. Rampant piracy is a new development off the coast of Somalia, growing as an industry alongside the degrading political and socio-economic conditions on the mainland. Piracy is a symptom of the greater problems facing Somalia- instability, impunity, poverty, and the greater humanitarian catastrophe that has existed for years now. Trying to fight poverty is important, but if you are trying to end piracy, that requires a lot more time and committment to foster good governance, stability and economic growth in Somalia.
The young boys who become pirates do so out of desperation. They risk their lives to make money, the only way they know how. The desperate economic condition in somalia has made piracy the only viable option for many families. Meanwhile, the extremely weak government can do little to curtail this growing crime because it has little to no control over the population. My recommendation to anyone interested in stoping piracy is to focus on creating conditions on the mainland that will not necessitate or create pirates. Invest in social and economic development intiatives and support good governance.
The world- and international media- seems to ignore the tragic conditions faced by Somalis today. It seems time and again that no one wants to look at the root causes of a problem but rather put a cheap bandaid on it. Unfortunately for Somalis, that cheap bandaid means they will continue to suffer in the dark unless the world's policymakers realize that the fight against piracy is a fight for a better Somalia.
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