International momentum builds up on fighting piracy in the Gulf of Aden

It is essential to join forces with all countries located on the borders of the Red Sea to fight the increased piracy in the south of the Red Sea in the Gulf of Aden to guarantee safety and security of ships said the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Abu Bakr al-Qurbi. 

Al-Qurbi said that all countries located in the Red and Arabian Sea has to bear their responsibilities in coordinating strategic planning amongst them to fight piracy and not to depend on foreign countries. The visit that President Saleh made last week to Jordan and Egypt came in the frame of coordinating with the countries located on the Red Sea and to gather efforts to combat the phenomena of maritime piracy perpetrated by Somali pirates. 

“Yemen is very concerned about the safety and security of the Red Sea and the Arabian national security,” said al-Qurbi, calling on all foreign donor countries to assist Yemen in its fight against terrorism.

Terrorist attacks and other extremist attacks have cost Yemen more than two billion dollars of economic losses, which extremely affects the economic state of Yemen, who is one of the weakest economies in the world. 

Official sources said that currently there are a number of US and British ships in the Yemen territorial water guaranteeing safety for traveling. 

Yemen opposition requested a clarification from the government to explain its position on the foreign interference in the Gulf of Aden. “The way Yemen treats the case of piracy is still not clear and irresponsible,” said Muhammad al-Sabri, spokesperson of the Joint Meeting Party (JMP). 

“Yemen has to talk about this case as a strong state, and not to confine its comments only to asking for aid and support. Any enforcement of international protection in the south of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden without considering the situation of the two countries, Somalia and Yemen, will not solve the problems of piracy,” said al-Sabri. 

The acts of piracy came as a result of the deteriorated situation in Somalia for the past twenty years, which causes fear in the international community from the effects of piracy in international maritime activity.   

These fears increased after the hijacking of a Ukrainian ship carrying 33 tanks that was heading to Kenya. The latest news about the situation is that European, American, and Russian military ships were sent to the territorial water of Somalia and Yemen to fight Somali pirates. 

According to international reports, most of the acts of piracy were committed in the Gulf of Aden between Yemen and northern Somalia, a main maritime route for oil cargo coming from the Middle East. This route receives around twenty thousand ships daily coming from Suez Canal. Currently, Somali pirates hold in their custody around 13 ships with 200 sailors. 

A recent international study revealed that piracy centered with government agents has cost international freight companies around 18 to 30 million dollars this year paid as ransoms.   

Another research conducted by a British organization finds that acts of privacy in the area has reached a level that will threaten international trade. It’s likely that freight companies will change to another route, which will increase costs of operations and freight prices. 

These piracy acts have increased the cost of warranty as a result. A lot of freight companies are starting to consider avoiding the route in the Gulf of Aden and use the Cape of Good Hope, located in South Africa. 

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