Somalia

EU signs piracy agreement with Kenya, US announce fall in number of attacks

Article published on the 2009-03-06 Latest update 2009-03-06 19:25 TU

Suspected Somali pirates at court in Mombasa on 6 March
(Photo: Reuters)

The EU and Kenya signed an agreement on Friday, which enables the transfer of suspected Somali pirates to the east African country as part of the EU Atalante anti-piracy naval operation. The US has announced a fall in piracy this year, with six ships being held hostage, compared to 14 at the end of last year.

The agreement which facilitates the transfer of suspected Somali to Kenya was signed by Kenyan Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula and the Czech ambassador to Kenya, whose country currently holds the EU presidency.

Meanwhile US officials announced on Thursday that pirate attacks dropped sharply this year following an increase in patrols in the Gulf of Aden.

“A scheme which is known as the group transit scheme, allows for vessels to pass through the Gulf of Aden, allowing for their different speeds and the type of vessel - this scheme has worked very well, given the resources which are available,” says Pottengal Mukundan, Director of the International Maritime Bureau.

“Masters of merchant vessels are now aggressively manoeuvring and preventing these pirates from getting close to the ship and boarding it,” Mukundan told RFI.

The agreement with Kenya will allow naval forces patrolling Somalia’s coast to send suspects to courts in the country for prosecution.

It will please some of the countries involved in the naval operation, who were worried that sending suspects back to Somalia would be futile, given the lawlessness in the country.

“It’s only when we have an accountable central government in Somalia, that the situation will improve, until then, we have to use whatever forces are available to deter the pirates,” says Mukundan.

A number of suspects are already being held in Kenya and seven suspected pirates captured by the US navy were charged with piracy by Mombasa chief magistrate Catherine Mwangi on Friday.

The German navy detain pirates in the Gulf of Aden on 3 March
(Photo: Reuters)

According to figures US Ambassador Stephen Mull announced to the House Armed Services Committee, the rate of successful pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia has dropped to 17 per cent, compared to 64 per cent in October.

While, there are only six ships currently held hostage, compared to 14 held hostage towards the end of last year.

“In the autumn of last year, the pirates were operating with impunity; they were operating with zero risk, and maximum reward,” Mukundan told RFI.

“Today they face a risk, there have been a number of pirates who have been caught, who have been handed over to authorities in Kenya and Yemen for prosecution, there have been mother ships which have been captured by the naval forces. So now the risk to the pirates is increasing,” Mukundan added, speaking from London.

Mull, who is acting under secretary of state for international security, outlined the fate of more than 200 suspected pirates the US navy and other forces have dealt with. 121 were disarmed and released, while 117 were turned over for prosecution.