Two Somali fishermen, their faces hidden by large scarves, cautiously enter a room for a secret meeting to explain why they have turned to piracy, seeking million-dollar ransoms.
One of them nervously gives permission to record the interview that took months to arrange in the coastal town of Eyl.
This secretive behavior marks a stark contrast to the boldness of the pirates who once ruled the port known as “Harunta Burcadda” – the Pirate Capital.
During the piracy boom, Eyl was a strategic base for pirates targeting ships passing through the Indian Ocean, earning millions in ransom payments.
However, their fortunes changed with the presence of international navies and local authorities cracking down on piracy activities.
Despite the decline in piracy, resentment towards foreign ships remains strong among the fishermen in Eyl, who accuse them of stealing their livelihood.
The decision to turn to piracy was driven by incidents of theft and violence against the fishermen, leading to a sense of desperation and a need to fight back.
The resurgence of pirate attacks in recent years has seen a rise in ransom payments, indicating a continued threat to maritime security in the region.
Operating in small groups armed with weapons, these pirates continue to target ships in the Indian Ocean, using tactics to intimidate and hijack vessels for ransom.
Their ultimate goal is to hijack larger vessels and navigate back to their base, using GPS tracking systems to identify potential targets.
Despite their actions, the pirates claim they do not intend to harm anyone, but rather aim to secure resources through their illicit activities.
Diiriye stated, “The goal is to scare them.” The gangs in Somalia seek funding from investors to support their expensive weaponry. They form syndicates with businessmen from Garowe and Bosaso, with each funding different aspects like boats, weapons, and fuel. Some investors hope to profit from captured vessels and ransom payments. Despite the availability of guns in Somalia, some former pirates have turned away from piracy and embraced a more moral lifestyle. The legacy of piracy in towns like Adado and Eyl includes empty mansions and social issues like alcohol and drug abuse. Fishermen in Eyl have faced challenges from unethical fishing practices by foreign fleets, leading to conflicts and injuries. Despite complaints to local authorities, the issue persists, with some foreign ships misusing fishing licenses. Illegal fishing by vessels from China, Iran, Yemen, and southeast Asia has been a long-standing issue in Somalia. Un informe de la embajada de los EE. UU. en Mogadiscio sugiere que Somalia pierde $300 millones cada año como resultado.
El almirante Manuel Alvargonzález Méndez de la Operación Atalanta dice que sus fuerzas solo atacan a los barcos piratas y ahora también tienen que proteger los barcos de los rebeldes hutíes de Yemen.
Pero él sostiene que el área es mucho más segura y los somalíes ahora pueden “lanzar sus redes de pesca sin miedo” – al igual que la Fuerza Policial Marítima de Puntland, que trabaja en estrecha colaboración con la misión naval de la UE.
Los ancianos de Eyl no quieren ver el regreso de los piratas [Hassan Lali / BBC]
Su comandante Farhan Awil Hashi está seguro de que no volverá a los “malos viejos tiempos” de la piratería.
Él cree que la respuesta a largo plazo es “la creación de empleo”.
“Los jóvenes deben conseguir trabajos, siempre. Si la persona está ocupada haciendo algo, no pensará en dirigirse al mar y secuestrar barcos”, le dice a la BBC.
Farah y Diiriye hacen el mismo argumento – dicen que como la pesca ya no paga, secuestrar un barco por rescate es la única forma en que pueden mantener a sus hijos.
Ellos saben que la piratería está mal – y Diiriye admite que tiene demasiado miedo de decirle a su propia madre.
“Si ella supiera, estaría muy decepcionada. De hecho, informaría a las autoridades.”
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[Getty Images/BBC]
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