Somali pirates have shown their defiance of the international community, attacking four ships on the day the UN took key steps against hijackings. The gunmen targeted an Indonesian tugboat, a Turkish cargo ship, a yacht and a Chinese fishing vessel, although its crew was later liberated. International intervention was to thank for that happy ending. But, despite several foreign naval operations in the area, little progress has been made in keeping ships safe.

Analysts say the problem in the Gulf of Aden must be tackled on land for any lasting solution and the United Nations Security Council seems to agree. It has unanimously approved a US resolution, allowing countries fighting piracy to take action on Somalia’s territory and in its airspace. This, subject to consent by the Somali government. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has an additional idea, suggesting a multinational force for Somalia rather than a typical peacekeeping operation. The United States says it does want the UN to deploy a peacekeeping force to war-torn Somalia. Washington believes the piracy crisis is inseparable from the turmoil in the Horn of Africa nation.More about: Somalia

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