Piracy: a symptom of Somalia's deeper problems

Indeed, the US should in the long term be pushing for such an outcome - not least as a means for moderating political resistance by the AU, which has a historical antipathy to recognising independence of regions within existing African states. As such, stature within whatever national authority develops in Somalia must be made explicit. Successfully applying this strategy will take time and will no doubt face many difficulties. However, such an approach is more likely to lead to success than the current strategy of imposing a central authority that lacks legitimacy.

Increase international co-operation to dissuade Somali pirates.

The above strategy of bolstering and spreading responsible governance in Somalia should help reduce piracy simply by decreasing the lawlessness that permits pirates to act with impunity. However, to speed this outcome, assistance and recognition need to be explicitly tied to co-operation in anti-piracy efforts.

The US and other nations should also apply pressure to Puntland and other Somali authorities linked to piracy by undermining the profit motive (e.g., applying US Treasury sanctions on financial institutions linked to piracy or prohibiting insurance claims on ransoms paid to pirates). The US should also, in co-ordination with other nations active in clamping down on piracy, consider implementing a naval interdiction and inspection of ships from Somalia and other ports known to be harbouring pirates - should these ports prove unwilling to co-operate with anti-piracy efforts - to be lifted when they co-operate with anti-piracy efforts. Leadership for these measures could come from a variety of countries, not just the US, whose naval capacities are robust enough to achieve these goals and whose interests are affected by piracy.

The UN Security Council could assist by blessing more aggressive interdiction of ports in Somali and other nations where pirates have demonstrably been able to seek refuge, recognising local authorities as part of the process toward establishing a legitimate national government in Somalia, supporting a benchmark process for access to foreign assistance, and eschewing a UN peacekeeping force as a means for artificially bolstering the TFG.

Beyond piracy

The US benefits from having sea lanes free of pirates and should pursue an assertive strategy for discouraging such activity. The uniquely lawless situation in Somalia requires supplementary strategies to the anti-piracy strategy. Specifically, the US must focus international attention on the need to recognise and bolster points of stability in Somalia and identify and work with local authorities toward the long-term goal of expanding governance in the Somalia.