Tanked up off Somalia
The activities of pirates off Somalia appear to have gone up a gear, with news that pirates have seized a Ukrainian ship, the Faina. Its cargo was unusual: over thirty Russian-built T-72 tanks, supposedly on their way to Kenya. Now these may not be cutting-edge tanks but the pirates are unlikely to dump them back in the sea. What’s more the cargo also included lots of spare parts. They will certainly earn a pretty penny or two on the black market. Psst – hey tosh, wanna buy a tank? Maybe they’ll fall into the hands of one of the many private armies in Somalia. But we have to ask: did the pirates have prior warning of the shipment, or did they just get lucky?
Meanwhile back on land a large shipment of food supplied by the World Food Programme for refugees in the south of Somaia has been attacked and comandeered by a large group of starving city residents. It’s a surprise they had the strength.
