C I V I L - M I L I T A R Y F U S I O N C E N T R E

Mediterranean Review

Sahel Crisis 1 North Africa 2 Northeast Africa 4 Horn of Africa 6

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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This document provides an overview of developments in the Mediterranean Basin and other regions of

interest from 28 August — 10 September, with hyperlinks to source material highlighted and underlined

in the text. For more information on the topics below or other issues pertaining to the region, please contact

the members of the Med Basin Team, or visit our website at www.cimicweb.org.

September 11, 2012

Food Crisis in the Sahel

Currently 18.7 million people in the Sahel region are suffering from food insecurity and malnutrition.

The recent start of the lean season and the depletion of household food stocks until the next harvest

marked the peak of crisis conditions. Volatile food prices, a result of the poor 2011-2012 harvest,

continue to aggravate food insecurity conditions, and raise

already high levels of malnutrition amongst children. More

than 1 million children are facing severe acute malnutrition

(SAM), and while rates vary between 10 to 20% in affected

countries, certain parts of Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso and

Chad currently have SAM rates above the WHO emergency

threshold of 15%.

Moreover, approximately 50 million people in Chad, Niger

and Mali currently face a possible desert locust infestation

which threatens summer crops, placing an additional financial

burden on aid agencies and further undermining food security.

Total funding requirements for emergency response efforts is

estimated at USD 1.65 billion; however, at least 50% of that requirement remains unmet.

The continued political crisis in Mali has displaced an estimated 442,775 people, 268,775 of whom

have taken refuge in neighbouring countries, placing an additional burden on the host countries and

aid agencies already experiencing severe food deficits. Burkina Faso and Mauritania and Niger are

hosting the highest numbers of Malian refugees. "In the north of the country, the situation is becom-

ing more and more alarming. Thousands of people affected in one way or another by the armed con-

flict are completely dependent on humanitarian aid. They urgently need food, and medical care and

other humanitarian services," said Yasmine Praz Dessimoz, ICRC's head of operations for North and

West Africa .

Source: OCHA

Source: OCHA

C I V I L - M I L I T A R Y F U S I O N C E N T R E P R E S E N T S

North Africa

Eray Basar › eray.basar@cimicweb.org

Page 2 11 September 2012

Algeria

The Algerian army killed nine suspected terrorists near the capital Algiers on 30 August, according to Associated Press (AP). The

suspects included Al Arkam group leader Zemouri Abdelmalek, who has been sought since 2010 for multiple terrorist attacks.

Mokhtar Belmokhtar, one of the founders of the Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), who was reportedly killed in late June in

the town of Gao in Mali, is “alive and leading military operations” according to his colleague Oumar Ould Hamaha. He was sen-

tenced to life in prison in absentia by an Algerian court for killing 10 Algerian customs officials in 2007. Reuters reports that Bel-

mokhtar is leading two AQIM battalions in Algeria’s southern desert.

Algerian army air strikes killed six suspected militants of Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) while they

were infiltrating Algeria from Mali by vehicle, according to Magharebia. Algeria is reportedly strengthening border security by in-

creasing the number of National Gendarmerie and checkpoints along its borders with Niger and Mali, in response to deteriorating

conditions in Mali. An Algerian security official noted the likelihood of an “Afghanisation” scenario, where Mali may become a

terrorist safe haven in North Africa, as Afghanistan was the base for Islamic militants in Central Asia.

MUJAO executed the military attaché from the Algerian consulate, Tahar Touat, who was one of three Algerian diplomats held hos-

tage by the Islamist group. MUJAO was demanding the release of Nejib Tayeb, the head of AQIM’s judicial commission who was

captured on 15 August; however, Algeria did not meet the given deadline for an exchange of prisoners, reports BBC. Algeria vowed

a “painful” retaliation against MUJAO following the execution. Algerian military and security officials met on 02 September to dis-

cuss a response plan, says Al Monitor. While the possibility of closing Algeria’s border with the rebel-held region of Mali is under

consideration, the 1,300 km border line has been declared a military zone which civilians may not enter. Meanwhile, the pro-

government press in Algeria caused tensions between Algeria and Morocco by stating that the Moroccan intelligence agencies shared

responsibility with MUJAO for the execution of the Algerian diplomat, informs Al Monitor.

Abdul Malek Sellal assumed the office of Prime Minister of Algeria on 04 September, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP). He

promised to continue the reforms of President Abdul Aziz Bouteflika.

Libya

Three members of the new Libyan National Assembly have been suspended and are under investigation, accused of being “members

of the Gaddafi Revolutionary Guards or involved in criminal anti-revolutionary activities”, reports Reuters. Moreover, according to

McClatchy, several members of the Libyan government and the military, including Interior Minister Fawzi Abdel Al and Defence

Minister Osama Jweili, have been implicated in the destruction of several Sufi mosques in Zlitan. Minister Abdel Al had initially

submitted his resignation, which he subsequently withdrew two days later, on 28 August.

Approximately 200 heavily-armed Islamists destroyed graves, mosques and a historic Turkish school called Othman Pasha Madrassa

on 29 August, according to McClatchy. During the attacks on the school, they also destroyed about 1,000 books and a tree they be-

lieve people have been worshipping in contradiction of Islam. These attacks are the latest incidents in a chain of attacks on Sufi sites

in Libya.

Abdullah Al Senussi, Libya’s former intelligence chief under Gaddafi, was extradited to Libya by Mauritanian authorities, who pre-

viously sought a trial for Senussi’s illegal entry to the country, according to BBC. He is also wanted by France and the International

Criminal Court. Libya is delaying the trial of former leader Moammar Gaddafi’s son, Saif Al Islam, in order to gather more infor-

mation to be used against him from the ex-spy chief Abdullah Al Senussi, states the Guardian. The spy chief is also expected to pro-

vide more information about other figures from the former regime.

In humanitarian news, nearly 200 refugees who have been residing in Choucha camp on the Tunisia-Libya border will move to Ger-

many to “start a new life”, according to AFP. The refugees, who originated from Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia, fled Libya

when the uprising started last year. In addition, Libya and Egypt launched a search and recovery operation for a group of forty ille-

gal migrants, all but one feared dead. The migrants were travelling by boat when it capsized off the coast of Libya en route to Eu-

rope, reports Agencia Angola Press (ANGOP).

Page 3 11 September 2012

Have a question on North Africa? Submit an RFI or recommend a topic for future In Focus coverage.

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Morocco

A delegation from the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights to Western Sahara reportedly observed that the crit-

ics of Moroccan government face “acts of intimidation and violence”, reports Associated Press (AP). The Center also stated that the

delegation itself was obstructed and harassed by the secret police.

The Moroccan Association of Human Rights (AMDH) expressed concerns about the Moroccan government’s ill-treatment of illegal

migrants in the country informs AFP. AMDH said “[t]he state is responsible for the safety and security of the migrants, but instead

they are subjected to beatings, both by the authorities and by hired thugs, or sent to the Algerian border”.

Tunisia

Tunisia has extended the state of emergency for the eighth time, giving the police and army the

authority to fire on protesters, following a series of attacks by Salafists on art festivals they con-

sider “impious”. Approximately 100 Salafists in Tunisia attacked a hotel in Sidi Bouzid on 04

September for serving alcohol, Reuters reports. They entered the rooms, damaged furniture and

smashed alcohol bottles.

Tunisian journalists and media figures accused the ruling government of limiting freedom of ex-

pression, reports AFP. This came after the new director of the state-owned Le Temps and Essa-

bah newspapers, Lotfi Touati, censored an article that criticised his appointment by the govern-

ment. Touati is considered to have close ties to the ruling Ennahda party. In addition, Sami Fehri,

owner of the private television network Tounissia TV, gave himself up to authorities upon issu-

ance of an arrest warrant, informs Reuters. He was charged with corruption. However, in an internet video broadcast shortly before

his arrest, Fehri argued that the government was punishing him for a satirical programme aired on his channel, mocking Tunisia’s

President Moncef Marzouki, Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali and Rached Ghannouchi, leader of the ruling Islamic Ennahda party. In

related news, Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) is delivering a training programme for over 70 Tunisian journalists. The

programme also established a national network, in which activists, bloggers and reporters can contribute news, opinion pieces and

analyses to a website called Jadal.

The Tunisian Ministry of Equipment announced an international tender to build 12,000 homes for the rapidly growing population in

several Tunisian cities, at prices much lower than the market, according to Reuters. Recently there has been unrest in the country

due to poor housing and lack of jobs. With this project, the government is attempting to respond to the complaints of people who

continue to feel marginalised since the ouster of the Tunisian leader and the holding of free elections.

A boat carrying about 100 people from Tunisia to Italy sank near the island of Lampedusa on 07 September, according to BBC. Fifty

-six people, including one pregnant woman were rescued; however, there was reportedly one death and dozens are still missing.

Source: France 24

C I V I L - M I L I T A R Y F U S I O N C E N T R E P R E S E N T S

Northeast Africa

Angelia Sanders › angelia.sanders@cimicweb.org

South Sudan

South Sudan has the world’s worst literacy rate with almost 75% of adults unable to read or

write, according to an analysis published on 04 September by the Integrated Regional Infor-

mation Network (IRIN). Less than 2% of the population has completed a primary school edu-

cation. Since gaining independence in July 2011, the new country has “struggled to build an

education system for its young and to educate the millions of adults who missed out on school

during the war”. Though 16% of the national budget is allocated to education, aid agencies

and opposition political parties say the actual amount received is less than 10%. Many teach-

ers are receiving their pay from parents rather than the government. Women are also dispro-

portionally affected and only 16% of women over age fifteen are literate. Aid agencies are

stressing education of women as a driver of development.

The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan, Toby Lanzer, reported that an

estimated 2.4 million people in South Sudan are in need of food assistance. Though the gov-

ernment and humanitarian agencies are providing support, Lanzer said that the situation has

been made worse by an influx of refugees and returnees from Sudan. Nine of South Sudan’s

ten states have also been affected by flooding, with Jonglei, Northern Bar el Ghazal, Unity,

Upper Nile and Warrap the hardest hit. Inter-agency assessments show that over 68,000 have

been affected by the floods within Jonglei state. The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said that it is “particularly

concerned by the apparent emergence in Jonglei of an armed insurgency group linked to the militia leader David Yau Yau, which is

believed to be acting in concert with groups of armed youths who have evaded the civilian disarmament operation in the state”. Fol-

lowing an attack that killed forty government soldiers in late August, commanding generals and Jonglei state government officials

have pledged to rid the state of Yau Yau rebels, reports the Sudan Tribune.

South Sudan’s oil minister stated that the country’s Upper Nile oil fields could take up to six months to resume production once a

deal has been signed with Sudan on export fees. The oil fields in Unity state could take up to a year to resume production as a result

of damage caused to the facilities during fighting in April this year.

Sudan

The Sudanese currency hit a historic low against the dollar in the black market as it became apparent that Sudan would not be earn-

ing oil export fees from South Sudan in the short term. Sudan has been experiencing a scarcity of hard currency since South Sudan

took 75% of oil production when it seceded in July 2011 and subsequently halted oil exports in January 2012. Sudan’s inflation rate

reached 41.6% in July 2012.

A Sudanese spokesman said that the Sudanese army had killed 77 rebels and 21 civilians in two separate clashes on 06 September in

South Kordofan and North Darfur states, reports al Jazeera. Only a few soldiers were killed or wounded during the fighting; howev-

er, the rebel groups Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-N) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) gave different

accounts of the violence, stating that dozens of soldiers had been killed and that JEM had seized vehicles from the government. Al

Jazeera maintains that events in Darfur and South Kordofan are difficult to verify by journalists due to a lack of access to the areas.

In late August, the SPLM-N leadership stated that the group was working to strengthen its alliance with rebel groups in Darfur, re-

ports the Sudan Tribune. SPLM-N is part of the Sudanese Revolutionary Forces (SRF), a coalition formed in November 2012 be-

tween SPLM-N, JEM and two other Darfur rebel groups to overthrow the government of President al-Bashir and establish a democ-

racy.

Political and Humanitarian Issues along Sudan and South Sudan Border

Sudan and South Sudan resumed talks in Ethiopia to secure security along the border and resume oil exports, reports Reuters. Media-

tors are seeking agreement on a 10-km-wide demilitarised buffer zone to ensure that both countries do not support rebels across their

borders. South Sudan has accepted the African Union’s (AU) proposed map; however, Sudan has refused to accept it, reports the

Sudan Tribune. The two sides have been given an extended deadline of 22 September to resolve all issues related to South Sudan’s

independence. The US Ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, stated that the United States is “deeply concerned about the apparent lack

of urgency” from both countries in implementing the AU roadmap, reports BBC. Rice further stated that Sudan’s refusal to accept

the roadmap plan “risks the resumption of outright conflict”. The UN Security Council also warned the two countries against failure

to reach an agreement. AU Chief Mediator for talks between Sudan and South Sudan, Thabo Mbeki, confirmed that Presidents Salva

Page 4 11 September 2012

Source: BBC

Page 5 11 September 2012

Kiir and al-Bashir will meet on 21 September and that he was optimistic that a final deal will be reached before the new deadline,

reports Miraya.

Rebels in South Kordofan and Blue Nile have accused Khartoum of “not respecting” a Memorandum of Understanding signed on

05 August to allow aid into the two Sudanese states and have called for aid to be sent through South Sudan and Ethiopia in order to

reach civilians caught in the fighting, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP). An international aid plan developed by the AU, Arab

League and UN to help mitigate the humanitarian situation has fallen behind. The UN says more than 650,000 people have been

displaced or severely affected by the fighting. Arrivals of Sudanese refugees into South Sudan’s Unity and Upper Nile states have

“slowed considerably” in recent weeks, reports UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). During the last

week of August, approximately 250 new refugees arrived, compared to the average of 2,000 per day in June and July 2012. Seasonal

flooding and insecurity in refugees’ places of origin has prevented movement and credited for the decreased numbers. Heavy rains

continue to restrict humanitarian access to refugee camps in Upper Nile and Unity states, causing aid delivery to be heavily depend-

ent on air transport. Malnutrition remains the main health problem within the refugee camps and is a result of poor hygiene leading

to diarrhoea, reports Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

EGYPT

Egypt reopened its border crossing in the Sinai on 25 August, signalling an improvement in relations between Egypt’s new govern-

ment and Hamas rulers in Gaza, according to Reuters. The crossing at Rafah, which was closed following the killing of 16 Egyptian

soldiers by militants on 05 August, remains a vital link between the Gaza Strip and Egypt for up to 800 Palestinians each day.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian Defence Ministry stated, “As of the morning of August 29, in continuation of the military operation, there

will be a redeployment of forces in various locations in Sinai to complete the hunt for terrorist elements”. This will involve spread-

ing troops and armoured vehicles over a larger area to drive out militants.

On 27 August, a new cabinet was sworn in, which included party affiliates from the Muslim Brotherhood, as well two women and

one Christian representative. Morsi also appointed a seventeen-member Presidential council, which includes six members of the

Muslim Brotherhood, although the exact function of the council remains unclear. Prime Minister Hisham Qandil has promised the

new constitution will be ready for a nationwide referendum by the end of September. The drafting has been particularly divisive

amongst liberals and the Muslim Brotherhood, with key issues regarding limits on presidential powers and the role of Islamic law

still to be decided.

Morsi attended the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Iran on 30 August, marking the first visit to Iran by an Egyptian

Leader since 1979, states the Guardian. While speaking in Tehran, Morsi called the Syrian uprising a “revolution against an oppres-

sive regime”, and stated that the movement had an ethical duty to support the uprising, urging Iran to help end the conflict, accord-

ing to BBC. Officials from Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey met in Cairo on 10 September to discuss the Syrian crisis, reports

Reuters. Consensus may be difficult to reach, however, as Iran remains a strong supporter of the Assad regime while the other three

states have all called for Assad to step down.

Although a newcomer to international diplomacy, Morsi has made several assertive moves in defining Egypt’s foreign policy, pur-

suing much needed investment and aid. Strong Arab ties remain vital as a source of economic aid and efforts have paid off in recent

days, with Qatar earmarking USD 18 billion in investment and Saudi Arabia allocating USD 4 billion in loans, reports Arab News.

Marking his first official trip outside the Middle East at the end of August, Morsi paid a visit to Beijing, which will be followed by a

visit to Washington after the UN General Assembly meeting in New York in late September. As the economy continues to falter and

daily protests by Egyptians against poverty, social inequality and injustice ensue, Morsi is looking to solidify ties with the United

States and needs their assistance to bolster the economy with a possible USD 1 billion in debt relief, states the New York Times.

Morsi has also requested a USD 4.8 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Have a question on Northeast Africa? Submit an RFI or recommend a topic for future In Focus coverage.

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Page 6

C I V I L - M I L I T A R Y F U S I O N C E N T R E P R E S E N T S

Horn of Africa Britta Rinehard › britta.rinehard@cimicweb.org

11 September 2012

Ethiopia

The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) and the Ethiopian government held peace talks 06-07 September in Nairobi, Kenya,

reports Bloomberg. For almost three decades, the ethnic Somali rebel group has advocated for Somalis in the Ogaden region and

their right of self-determination. Classified as a terrorist organisation by the Ethiopian government, the ONLF has carried out a low-

level insurgency in the area since 1984, but has recently indicated the desire to take a “more peaceful avenue.” The Ogaden Region

is rich in natural resources, including 4 trillion cubic feet of gas, which the Ethiopian government has contracted to foreign explora-

tion companies. Further meetings between the government and ONLF are scheduled.

Temesghen Desalegn, editor of the leading independent weekly Feteh, was released from prison on 28 August, with all charges

against him dropped, reports the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Temesghen had criticised Prime Minister Meles’ policies

in articles published by Feteh, prior to the government-ordered shutdown of the newspaper on 20 July. Charges against Feteh’s pub-

lisher, Mastewal Publishing and Advertising PLC, were also dropped. CPJ issued a statement calling “on Ethiopian authorities to

demonstrate a commitment to freedom of expression by releasing the eight other journalists currently imprisoned for their work and

by ending the government’s practice of prosecuting journalists who voice dissenting views.” On 10 September, Swedish journalists

Johan Persson and Martin Schibbye were pardoned after more than a year in prison, writes Associated Press (AP). The two had

been sentenced to eleven years in prison in December 2011 for aiding terrorism and entering the country illegally; Persson and

Schibbye were arrested while attempting to cross the Somalia/Ethiopian border with ONLF members.

Kenya

Abubaker Sharif, a Muslim cleric and alleged al Shabaab supporter, turned himself in after an arrest warrant was issued charging

him with inciting riots in Mombasa. Violent riots erupted following the drive-by shooting of Aboud Rogo, another Muslim cleric

also accused of supporting the al Qaeda-linked group, informs Reuters. While the government accused “Kenya’s enemies” of being

responsible for the death of Rogo and vandalising and burning churches and cars in the tourist hub, rioters suspected Kenyan au-

thorities of being involved in Rogo’s killing, reports Reuters. The riots caused several deaths and wounded dozens, prompting Hu-

man Rights Watch (HRW) to urge the Kenyan government to establish an independent inquiry into Rogo’s killing.

Renewed ethnic clashes between the Pokomo and Orma communities in the Tana Delta in

Coastal Province, killed more than thirty people, including eight children, on 10 September,

reports BBC. The cycle of retaliation, caused by land and water disputes, has led to at least 100

deaths over the past three weeks.

Police in Nairobi seized over 150 bomb detonators on 07 September from a house in the

Githurai area, located close to Nairobi’s business district, informs Reuters. Security concerns

continue to escalate as the next presidential election, scheduled for March 2013, approaches.

Seasonal floods and mud slides in the Rift Valley Province destroyed crops, inundated schools

and displaced thousands, reports Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN). The affect-

ed population is at risk of waterborne diseases and in need of emergency food supplies; howev-

er, poor or impassable road conditions are hampering relief efforts.

Former home affairs permanent secretary, Sylvestor Mwaliko, was found guilty of abuse in office and served with a USD 35,400

fine or three years in prison, reports Reuters. This is the first conviction in the Anglo Leasing graft scam which involved the award-

ing of state contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars to non-existent firms for services ranging from forgery-proof passports

to naval ships and forensic laboratories. So far, no other government official has been tried in the multi-million dollar scandal,

which was uncovered in 2004. Analysts state that there is a lack of political will to tackle corruption within the government.

Kenya has started construction on the USD 25 billion port project in northern Kenya, which is part of the Lamu Port-Southern Su-

dan-Ethiopia Transport corridor, according to Bloomberg. Once completed in 2030, the deep water port in Lamu is expected to meet

40% of the projected demand of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and significantly boost economic

growth in the area. The massive project will include infrastructure, including a refinery and possibly a 1,243-mile long crude pipe-

line linking South Sudan with the northern Kenyan port, thereby alleviating South Sudan’s dependency on Sudan for export of its

oil. The port will provide an alternative to the congested port in Mombasa, which because of its maximum depth and layout can

Source: BBC

only handle certain sizes of vessels. The controversial Lamu port project has raised security and environmental concerns (see 06

March Mediterranean Review).

British oil and gas explorer, Tullow Oil, announced the first significant discovery of natural gas off the coast of Kenya, in their

Mbawa-1 exploration well near Melindi, reports United Press International (UPI). The finding highlights the company’s

“confidence about the emerging energy potential for Kenya”.

Somalia

On 10 September, members of parliament voted for a new president for the first time since 1991, reports Garowe Online. After

three rounds of voting, parliament elected Hassan Sheikh Mohamud by a two-thirds majority vote over former President Sharif

Sheikh Ahmed. Mohamud is a relative newcomer to politics, previously working in the education sector. He belongs to the influen-

tial Abgal sub-clan of the Hawiye clan family from the Mogadishu area.

Former Prime Minister Mohamed Ali Samantar, has been ordered to pay USD 21 million to the victims of torture, which took place

during his time in office from 1987 to 1990, reports BBC. Seven Somalis filed a lawsuit in 2004 in the United States, alleging that

killings, rapes and torture of civilians were carried out by the Somali intelligence agencies and military policy during Samantar’s

tenure. Samantar, now living in the US, was denied diplomatic immunity. Rights activists applauded the decision, proving that for-

eign officials accused of illegal activities abroad could be held legally accountable in the US.

Somali and AMISOM forces gained control of the town of Miido, located about 86 km northwest of Kismayo, after fierce fighting

with al Shabaab militants, informs Garowe Online. AMISOM claims to have killed 36 members of al Shabaab during the battle,

while Islamic militants released pictures showing four bodies from African Union (AU) forces, which had been dragged through

the port city of Kismayo. BBC confirmed that the Kenyan navy began shelling Kismayo, one of the last remaining al Shabaab

strongholds, in an effort to capture the city.

Lafras Luitingh, a former South African mercenary, is under investigation by the UN Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea,

informs UPI, for allegedly operating a private army in Puntland, the breakaway region in Somalia. Investigators claim that Luitingh

is supporting the Sterling Corporate Services and Saracen, “two companies organized by South African mercenaries and involved

in equipping a Puntland army”, violating the UN arms embargo.

Piracy Nine Somali pirates are on trial in Rotterdam for opening fire on Dutch marines as they boarded a captured Iranian fishing boat in

2011, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP). The marines successfully detained 16 suspected pirates and freed 16 Iranian fishermen

who had been held hostage for four months.

A Syrian crew member from the hijacked MV Orna was allegedly killed and another was wounded by their captors, reports Associ-

ated Press (AP). The pirates threatened to kill more hostages if the owner continues to ignore their ransom demands. The United

Arab Emirates-owned vessel was hijacked by Somali pirates off the Seychelles in 2010.

An Italian navy helicopter, deployed on the ITS SAN GIUSTO in support of the EU’s Operation ATALANTA, was hit by shots

fired “from a boat suspected to be under the control of pirates”, reports OCEANUSLive. Concerned about the safety of the hostages

on board the hijacked boat, the helicopter did not return fire.

For further information on piracy-related topics please visit our Horn of Africa page.

* The number of hostages and vessels held can vary from entity to entity. For example, EU and NATO statistics account for vessels

hijacked for ransom, while IMB includes fishing vessels and dhows hijacked for reasons other than ransom.

Organisation Number of Hostages Vessels Held

EU NAVFOR/NATO 177 as of 30 August 2012 7

IMB* 212 as of 30 August 2012 11

Page 7 11 September 2012

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