UN Security Council extends mandate to fight Somali pirates

The UN Security Council on Monday extended for another year the mandate for states and regional organizations to fight Somali pirates and stressed the need for a comprehensive approach by the international community to tackle the root causes of the scourge.

The 15-member body, in a unanimously adopted resolution, reiterated that "it condemns and deplores all acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia."

The Security Council "recognizes that the on-going instability in Somalia is one of the underlying causes of the problem of piracy and contributes to the problem of piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia," said the resolution.

The Horn of African country has one of the most dangerous coastlines in the world due to piracy which threatens not only maritime workers but also the coastal economy.

According to a UN-backed report released on Nov. 1, pirates off the coast of Somalia and the Horn of Africa have made between 339 million U.S. dollars and 413 million dollars in ransom profits since 2006, fueling a wide range of criminal activities on a global scale.

The Monday resolution, passed following a Council open meeting concerning piracy as a threat to international peace and security, demonstrated greater prominence of the issue in the international community.

While underlining "the primary responsibility of Somali government in the fight against piracy at sea off its coast of Somalia," the Security Council stressed "the need for a comprehensive response to repress piracy and tackle its underlying causes by the international community."

Therefore, the Council renewed its call on states and regional organizations that have the capacity to do so, to take part in the fight against Somali pirates, in particular "by deploying naval vessels, arms and military aircraft and through seizures and disposition of boats, vessels, arms and other related equipment" used in the commission of such crimes.

In addition, the members of the Security Council "decides that for a further period of 12 months from the date of this resolution to renew the authorizations ... granted to states and regional organizations cooperating with Somali authorities in the fight against piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia," said the resolution.

The Security Council also reiterated its decision to continue its consideration, as a matter of urgency, of the establishment of specialized anti-piracy courts in Somalia and other states in the region with substantial international participation and support.