Al-Shabaab and Pirates
While the Transitional Federal Government made an agreement to admit members of the former Islamic Courts Union into the government in a bid to unify the country, violence continues to plague the central Somali coast. It takes two primary forms: piracy by various tribal groups, and Islamic extremist movements, such as Al-Shabaab.
Piracy has been rampant along the coast of Somalia, with at least 111 attacks against shipping and 42 vessels captured during 2008.
In December 2008, Hobyo pirates and Al-Shabaab militants fought over the control of Hobyo.
Galmudug’s newly elected president Gen. Qaybdiid banned Somali pirates from operating from Hobyo coastline, a previously notorious pirates-hub in Mudug region. Qaybdid made the remarks while addressing hundreds of locals in Hobyo town where he toured earlier in the day as part of his visit to the region. General Abdi Hasan Awale (Qaybdiid) who was elected as the new president of Galmudug in August 2012, said that pirates will not be allowed to operate from the area or dock their kidnapped vessels into the area under his watch and promised to deal with defiant pirates accordingly. The Galmudug president urged locals to support his administration in tackling insecurity and defeating piracy in the area.
Read more about this topic: Galmudug
Famous quotes containing the word pirates:
“Well, you Yankees and your holy principle about savin’ the Union. You’re plunderin’ pirates that’s what. Well, you think there’s no Confederate army where you’re goin’. You think our boys are asleep down here. Well, they’ll catch up to you and they’ll cut you to pieces you, you nameless, fatherless scum. I wish I could be there to see it.”
—John Lee Mahin (1902–1984)