Taking Africa Seriously

Many adults can easily recall the rash of airline hijackings that occurred in the United States a few decades ago. More than 40 hijackings occured in the U.S. in 1969! While the methods of hijacking varied -- the end result was usually the same: each of them wanted to be flown to Cuba.

To stop the hijackings, airport security measures were beefed-up and for the first time we saw metal detectors installed. In addition, in 1970 Cuban law made hijacking a crime, and a joint agreement was made between the US and Cuba to return or prosecute hijackers. The hijackings stopped.

But the crisis brought to the forefront issues which needed to be addressed . . . and the same thing is happening in East Africa right now.

Within the last few weeks, ships carrying a variety of cargo have been hijacked by “pirates” operating in waters off the coast of East Africa. Some ships have carried military equipment, while others carried chemicals and oil. Eleven vessels are currently being held by pirates hoping to secure ransoms for their release, according to The Associated Press. A multinational naval force including vessels from the U.S., the UK and Russia has been patrolling the Indian Ocean waters seas near the Gulf of Aden, which connects the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea.

In the past, it has been the policy of many world leaders to ignore African nations that seem to flaunt international law. But can this continue? Can the international community continue to ignore Somalia -- a piracy hotspot and a country which has had no functioning government since 1991? And if world leaders decide to act . . . what will this mean for the many who suffer at the hands of a few?