UN appeals for legal regulation in anti-piracy

26.08.2010 In 2010 there have been 139 piracy-related incidents off the coast of Somalia. Thirty ships have been hijacked. Seventeen ships and 450 seafarers are being held for ransom. That was said by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, appearing at the UN Security Council's anti-piracy session.

According to the UN Press Service, Ban Ki-moon underlined that through recent three years international community had made considerable efforts to solve that problem. The Contact Group was established and several international naval assets were deployed in the region. "Nonetheless, we can do more. In particular, we need to implement the existing legal regime, so the fight against piracy in international waters is effective", stated Ban Ki-moon. The Secretary General reminded that he had already offered seven options of criminal prosecution of pirates off Somalia. Among them are establishment of a special local court in Somalia, regional or international tribunal, UN-controlled judicial chamber. Ban Ki-moon added that his Legal Counsel would describe those options in detail.

However, implementation of any of the options will require political and financial commitment from UN Member States. It is also required to identify the host country for anti-piracy judicial authority.

The Secretary General said that for further exploration of those issues he had appointed Jack Lang a Special Adviser on Legal Issues Related to Piracy off the Coast of Somalia.

As it was previously reported by Rosbalt, Somali militants from radical antiauthority group Al-Shabab carried out series of offensive operations in Mogadishu on Wednesday with a view to seize the most important governmental buildings and infrastructure facilities. The rebels attacked strategic highway guarded by army troops and peacekeepers from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) – Mecca Al-Mukarrama Ave which connects presidential palace with seaport and airport and is the main traffic artery for supplies and deliveries.

Besides, the militants attacked positions of pro-governmental movement Ahli Sunna Val Jamaa and AMISOM units located in Bermuda neighborhood, southern Mogadishu; consequently, the intense skirmish broke out.

Information about results of the operation is contradictory. According to Al-Shabab's representative Sheikh Abdelaziz Abu Muskab, the group "succeeded in attacking and almost cut off the strategic highway". On the other hand, governmental sources refute this information. As for them, "army troops controls the highway despite militants' numerous attempts to seize it".

At least 80 people were killed during two days of battle in Somali capital city. According to BBC, skirmishes between governmental troops and Islamite militants started next day after attack upon a Mogadishu hotel when 40 people were killed. Radical group Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for that terror attack.