A new resolution at the UN for the fight against pirates
(B2) The UN Security Council unanimously voted on October 7 a new resolution on the fight against piracy in Somalia (resolution 1838), after the one voted in June (resolution 1816, (1 )).
This text has several interests:
- it allows the deployment of warships AND (especially) air assets to fight against piracy off the coast of Somalia. It thus authorizes intervention not only "off the coast" (Resolution 1816 authorized entry into territorial waters) but also in "the superjacent airspace". This, without time limit.
- it indicates the will of the Security Council to renew resolution 1816 (limited to 6 months).
- it encourages coordination not only between States but also regional organizations - acting in the use of force, the prevention of piracy or technical assistance to the Somali authorities.
- it asks (again - (see resolution 1814)) States to ensure the "protection of maritime convoys of the World Food Programme". That "is of vital importance for the delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Somalia" is it mentioned.
This project - led by France on behalf of the European Union - has been supported by around ten European countries (Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom ) or not (Japan, Malaysia, Korea, Panama and the United States). The only false note: South Africa, which finally voted for the resolution while considering that it was also urgent to help the transitional government. Same concern of Indonesia which underlined that piracy was not the only problem, but a part of the instability of the country, and that it was necessary to push for a political solution in Somalia.
To read resolution 1816 (June 2008), resolution 1814 (May 2008), go to the page "Texts - maritime piracy"
(1) Read also:
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