2008-09-30 01:12:25 - Rescuing the hijacked Ukrainian ship may proof futile, as its final fate is considered by pirates.

Recent unflattering international reports of a Ukrainian cargo ship hijacked by militias loyal to the current parachutist government of "Somalia" from the region formerly known as Majertenia and now dubbed as "Pirate (Puntland) State of Zoomalia" reminds Somalis of the dangers which encircle them on a daily basis.

What the firestorms of speculations by media collusively failed to investigate is

the correct destination of weapons bought "legitimately" from Ukraine through Ukrainian weapons brokers. Although first major reports claimed the purchase was made by South Sudan rebels, or by the Khartoum government. More recent analysis by Somali experts is growing intensely and may lead to the eventual destruction of the ship along with its cargo.

Shedding more light into the spurious unconvincing claims and counter claims of the perplexing and unprofessional opportunist Kenyan maritime officials who so often aided and abetted the pirates. The current Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi might have been unaware, but was surprisingly the only one to raise concerns regarding current hijacked ship, and raised many questions; why only him in Africa and why now?

Ridiculous

Speaking from London, a former manager of a major Kenyan haulage company from Mombassa Samir Yasin ridiculed accusations of South Sudan connections. Revelations were made this week that such cargo to be heading to South Sudan prompting the SPLA to strongly deny such claims. SPLA may have used Ukrainians based in Dubai to broker and drop light weapons such as grenades and assault rifles by air. However, never to delver a huge consignment of tanks and modern Russian ammunitions by cargo ship specially through mainland Kenya.

The same media quickly ran errands this time provoking the Kenyan army and the East Africa division lately built by America to fight against an apparent "terror networks" in the horn of Africa. They also distanced themselves from this consignment, although they confirm the ships destination to had been Mombassa. This leaves the main culprit Ethiopia, as the sole destination of reported weaponry since it is not common sense to deliver to the Khartoum government using the Indian Ocean.

Ethiopia who single-handedly chose to support American will to destroy the little stability which united local Islamic courts have brought to the South of "Somalia". It is ironic that one of the biggest thorns in its back is now its creations such as the unpopular and most hated "Transitional Federal Government" as pirates loyal to the "Transitional Federal Government " enjoy carte blanche to do whatever they want both in land and in the seas. "Somalia" might be "lawless", but some are more "lawless" than others.

Pirates at logger heads

With the good will of Eid this week, the monstrous pirates partners in crime split to two groups on tribal grounds. Those closely affiliated with the current president of the "Transitional Federal Government" seek to receive ransom, while the other highly suspecting of Ethiopian involvement seeks to sink ship by fire. The latter hopes to accumulate moral support from mainstream Somalis humiliated and embarrassed by Ethiopian presence in their homelands who they perceive to continue to destabilise and isolate their country and people.
Due to these squabbles, a major opportunity might have been given to the crew and ship for still to be saved as clan rivalries often stagnate. One major point to worry for locals in Puntland would be a spill over of such confrontations into the small coastal settlements. Negotiations are currently pending inland to deliberate the final fate of the ship and crew as naval destroyers come closer to monitor the ship's state.

"Pirate (Puntland) State of Somalia" is currently led by self styled "General" Adde, once a local rival of current "Transitional Federal Government" of Somalia. His tribesmen called the Osman Mohamooud and that of the TFG's president's Omar Mahmoud clan have united to earn sustenance from the seas from 2002. This early initiatives began as a program to raise fund for their ailing fiefdom they named as "Puntland" often striking deals with fishing boats from China, Vietnam, Spain and Yemen.

Kenya; a long standing modern Christian ally of Ethiopia

Ethiopia having viewed itself as the only Christian in a sea of "pagans" to describe its location of being sandwiched by Islam following nations occupying the Red sea and Indian Ocean. Kenyan government became their saviour and entered agreements with Ethiopia to bolster their defence in the 1960s after coming under attack by Somali Republic, who then pursued Greater Somaliland policy of uniting all Somali ethnic groups divided by colonial borders in Kenya and Ethiopia with the Somali Republic.

Since then, Kenya has been an ally; a confidant always coming to the rescue of Ethiopia's needs. For many years, Kenya has been and is a logistical arms supplier to Ethiopia with ships docking at major ports including Mombassa. From there, the arms shipment are held and stored at Mombassa by Kenyan Army until the last stock is shipped to Ethiopia.

The reasons why Djibouti port, one of Ethiopia's major trading partners are ignored by Ethiopian army is because of the security threat it poses as information quickly spreads in nippy Somali circles compared to Kenyans' incredible docile nature. In the current climate of Somali victimisations, there is a collective and consistent hostility to all goods either entering or leaving for Ethiopia including Aid donations to a country rich enough to invest in foreign military expeditions.