Abstract
The activities of Somali pirates and Al Shabab are causing concern among the international community as it affects business activities in the high seas of the Indian Ocean and insecurity in the East African countries. The United States needs to collect intelligence on how the terror group can be eliminated. As the United States National Security Advisor, Susan Rice should aim at determining the socio-economic and political forces behind the creation and existence of this group.
Introduction
The recent activities of Somali pirates’ shows that they have come back to the waters of the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Yemen despite the efforts put by the African Union forces to paralyze their activities by fighting Al Shabab. According to Bahadur (2012), these pirates are an economic arm of the Al Shabab, and their operations largely depend on the ability of this terror group to gain control over the strategic territories along the Somali coastline.
Since 2011 when the AMISOM launched an offensive against the terror outfit within the borders of Somalia, major progress has been made in reducing piracy in the high seas and paralyzing the operations of Al Shabab is a strategic Somali coastline. However, the recent turn of events strongly indicates that after staying in this country and fighting Al Shabab for over five years, the AMISOM has failed to find a permanent solution that can conclusively eliminate this terror group and all its activities in the high seas and other strategic locations within Somalia (Mukinda, 2016).
Recently, the Al Shabab fighters infiltrated a Kenyan military camp in Somalia, killing over 180 soldiers and capturing the few who survived the attack. This gave them the power to take over control of strategic locations within Somalia. Their activities have also intensified in the high seas. They recently sunk the Greek fighter- Corinth Queen- when payment they demanded as ransom did not reach them in time.
Iskadia, a Liberian tanker, was also set ablaze with its cargo and crew members when ransom demanded by these pirates delayed. As Conor (2016) says, the Somali pirates are back with vengeance, and they are swift and ruthless in their actions. Unless measures are taken by the international community to tame this group, the Indian Ocean waters may soon become too dangerous to sustain economic activities. As a country charged with the responsibility of providing intelligence to the international community fighting these terrorists, the United States’ National Security Advisor should find the most effective way of gathering intelligence that will help the forces at the battlefield to achieve success as they try to eliminate the terror outfit.
Review of Sources
Susan Elizabeth Rice is currently the United States National Security Advisor, a position she has held since July 1, 2013 (Smith, Bracks, & Wynn, 2015). Before being appointed into this position, she served as the 27th United States ambassador to the United Nations from 2009 to 2013 under the presidency of Barack Obama. She was also the 12th Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs from October 14th, 1997 to January 20, 2001, under the presidency of Bill Clinton (Bracks, 2012).
An accomplished academician and a champion of world peace based on her publications, Rice has been keen on promoting cohesion and integration in many regions across the world, including Africa and the Middle East. Her experience in international relations and dedication when it comes to finding solutions to issues related to world peace clearly shows that she is concerned about the events going on in Somalia. This official will look for a solution to the threat posed by Somali pirates and the Al Shabab to the vessels in the Indian Ocean (Daniels, 2014). She understands that this problem not only affects regional countries but also the international community, including the United States.
Gray areas
In this semester, the researcher will be interested in finding a long-lasting political, military, social, and economic solution to the problem posed by the Somali pirates and Al Shabab group in the coastal of East Africa. The researcher believes that military solutions cannot bring a permanent solution to this problem because there might be economic, social, and political forces that may make these criminals go back to the high seas even after being eliminated through military force. Susan Rice should be determined to understand how to find a lasting solution based on all of these pillars.
Conclusion
The activities of Somali pirates and Al Shabab within Somalia and high seas of the Indian Ocean are posing a serious threat to the business community using this route. The efforts put by the International community to combat these terrorists and pirates using military force have helped in reducing the capacity to operate in the Indian Ocean. However, a long-lasting solution can only be achieved by addressing socio-economic and political factors that led to the rise of these groups. As it seeks to provide intelligence to the forces on the group, the United States will need to focus on these three factors that can help in addressing this problem.
References
Bahadur, J. (2012). The pirates of Somalia: Inside their hidden world. Toronto: Harper Perennial. Web.
Bracks, L. (2012). African American almanac: 400 years of triumph, courage and excellence. Canton, Mich: Visible Ink Press. Web.
Conor, G. (2016). Al-Shabab Killed 180 Kenyan Troops in El Adde: Somali President. Web.
Daniels, C. L. (2014). Somali piracy and terrorism in the Horn of Africa. Lanham, Md: Scarecrow Press. Web.
Mukinda, F. (2016). Security on high alert after terrorists sneak in from Somalia. Daily Nation. Web.
Smith, C., Bracks, L., & Wynn, L. (2015). The Complete Encyclopedia of African American History. New York, NY: Cengage. Web.