SA 'can lead fight against piracy'
Edwin Tshivhidzo
12 March 2009
While all countries have to work together to combat piracy off the African continent, South Africa has the capacity to lead the fight, United States Navy Commander Mark Fitzgerald told delegates at the 3rd Sea Power for Africa Symposium in Cape Town this week.
With approximately 95% of the world's trade conducted via the sea, piracy, poaching, armed robberies and other illegal activities such as drug and human trafficking are becoming a major concern for many countries.
In recent months, there have been a number of ships hijacked for large sums of ransom money off the coast of Somalia.
"It is time for governments to join forces against illegal activities in their waters. By sharing information, we will weaken their strategy," Fitzgerald told BuaNews, adding that maritime traffic played a major role in Africa's economic growth.
Naval investment
He said it was imperative for governments to invest heavily in their navies and to ensure they were well-equipped. "Lack of proper training and resources has been identified as a major obstacle in the protection of maritime."
There was also an urgent need for the establishment of an early warning system to ensure adequate time and distance to detect, deter, interdict and defeat the array of maritime security threats, he said.
One of the resolutions agreed on during the 1st Sea Power for Africa Symposium, held in Cape Town in 2005, was the need for the establishment for an early warning system to ensure pro-active, effective and efficient prevention of piracy.
SA 'a significant role player'
Rear Admiral Robert Higgs, Flag Officer Fleet of the South African Navy, agreed that South Africa could play a leading role in fighting piracy. "South Africa is a significant role player on the continent; South Africa also has the strongest and the most powerful navy."
In recent years, South Africa has acquired state-of-the art frigates and submarines.
Higgs said South Africa did not face any threat of piracy itself. "We do not have pirates operating on our waters."
Asked if the South African Navy was prepared to assist in operations off the Somali coast, Higgs said they were more than prepared to help, but said the decision had to be made at the political level.
Kenyan researcher Dr Paul Musili Wambua emphasised the need for regional cooperation, saying pirates took advantage of instability in the region to create safe havens from where they could act with near impunity.
Source: BuaNews
