1. PIRATES OFPIRATES OF
SOMALIASOMALIA

2. WHERE IS SOMALIA?WHERE IS SOMALIA?
SAUDI ARABIA
Somalia covers
the horn of
Africa on the
continent’s
eastern coast.
The Indian
Ocean and its
waterways
separate
Somalia from
the oil-rich
nations of the
middle east.

3. BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND
In 1991, theIn 1991, the
outbreak of civiloutbreak of civil
war in Somalia ledwar in Somalia led
to the collapse ofto the collapse of
its government inits government in
Mogadishu.Mogadishu.
With the fall of theWith the fall of the
capital came thecapital came the
fall of nationalfall of national
defense.defense.

4. BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND
Without aWithout a
functional coastfunctional coast
guard, the watersguard, the waters
around Somalia’saround Somalia’s
vast borders werevast borders were
invaded by foreigninvaded by foreign
fishing andfishing and
dumping vessels.dumping vessels.

5. BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND
The Somali villagers,The Somali villagers,
whose lifestyle so cruciallywhose lifestyle so crucially
depended on their fishingdepended on their fishing
industry, had no choiceindustry, had no choice
but defend themselves.but defend themselves.
Fishermen, soldiers, and computer masters alike set
out to capture any ship that sailed near their coast.
They call themselves vigilantes. We call them pirates.

6. BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND
After capturing a vessel, the pirates would holdAfter capturing a vessel, the pirates would hold
the ship for a ransom, usually in the range ofthe ship for a ransom, usually in the range of
millions of US dollars.millions of US dollars.
However, with such
high stakes, profit
became a secondary
driving force for many
Somalis to set out on
the high seas.

7. ADDITIONAL INFOADDITIONAL INFO
 Most Somali pirates do not intend toMost Somali pirates do not intend to
do any harm; they simply need thedo any harm; they simply need the
money to feed themselves and themoney to feed themselves and the
impoverished people of their ravagedimpoverished people of their ravaged
nation.nation.
 About a dozen ships are seized byAbout a dozen ships are seized by
pirates at any given time.pirates at any given time.

8. ADDITIONAL INFOADDITIONAL INFO
 The high-tech equipment which piratesThe high-tech equipment which pirates
use are funded by Yemen and terroristuse are funded by Yemen and terrorist
groups, such as al-Qaeda.groups, such as al-Qaeda.
 Currently there does not seem to beCurrently there does not seem to be
any hope of ending piracy in Somaliany hope of ending piracy in Somali
waters.waters.

9. EQUIPMENT USED BYEQUIPMENT USED BY
PIRATESPIRATES
RPGsRPGs
(Rocket-Powered Grenade(Rocket-Powered Grenade
Launchers)Launchers)
SPEEDBOATsSPEEDBOATs

10. EQUIPMENT USED BYEQUIPMENT USED BY
PIRATESPIRATES
HOOKS AND ROPESHOOKS AND ROPES
GPSGPS RADIORADIO
MONEY-COUNTING MACHINEMONEY-COUNTING MACHINE

11. NAVY SEALSNAVY SEALS
RESCUERESCUE
On April 13, 2009, after five days of failedOn April 13, 2009, after five days of failed
negotiation, Navy SEALs snipers were forced tonegotiation, Navy SEALs snipers were forced to
shoot at three Somali pirates, one of whom wasshoot at three Somali pirates, one of whom was
holding an AK-47 to the back of American captainholding an AK-47 to the back of American captain
Richard PhllipsRichard Phllips’ head.

12. NAVY SEALSNAVY SEALS
RESCUERESCUE
The event marked the first time Somali pirates seized anThe event marked the first time Somali pirates seized an
American vessel.American vessel.
The incident was alsoThe incident was also
monumental because ofmonumental because of
the extreme difficulty ofthe extreme difficulty of
the mission– three snipersthe mission– three snipers
simultaneouslysimultaneously killedkilled
three pirates in thethree pirates in the headhead
whilewhile rocking on therocking on the
seasea..

13. FOR MORE INFOFOR MORE INFO
FAQ’s
About.com
The Christian Science Monitor
ArticleArticle
Somali Pirate InterviewSomali Pirate Interview
WikipediaWikipedia