Interview with a pirate; the why, how, where and what of Somali piracy
In an exclusive interview conducted by a Somalia Report correspondent, Ahmed Abdi, a former pirate tells about his life as a pirate. The article by Somalia Report, the premier site for exclusive news from Somalia, including piracy and conflict, follows.
Abdulkadir Musse Abdulle is a former pirate who recently graduated from the Garowe Polytechnic college in Puntland as part of an effort to train rehabilitated pirates. Abdi learned welding and plans to start a garage business where he wants to hire competent technicians and mechanics to earn ‘legitimate’ money. Somalia Report interviewed Abdikadir about his life as a pirate.
When did you become a pirate?
I became a pirate in 2009.
What prompted you to become a pirate?
I was a fisherman in Eyl in Puntland before I turned to piracy. Suddenly, foreign trawlers and illegal fishing boats began approaching us, and destroyed our fishing nets. They could sometimes confiscate all our fishing equipments and harassed us. Therefore I was forced to quit fishing and go back to the town. One day one of my friends joined the pirates, and came back with a lot of money from ransom they took from one of the vessels they hijacked. He encouraged me to join piracy and hijack the foreign trawlers which dump waste and collect our seas resources. I joined them, and we kidnapped a French tourist vessel.
Did you join piracy untrained, or if trained, where and when were you trained?
No training is required as long as one is a sea expert, strong and can swim, so I had all those requirements. I was a former fisherman. I was already a sea expert.
How did you divide ransom amongst you?
Ransom money is divided into three portions:
• 50% of the money is for the vessel kidnappers.
• 25% of it is for the mission investors.
• 25% is for ground pirates who wait for the ship to embark ashore and then board it as guards until the ransom money arrives.
How many pirates per hijacking?
The availability and type of boat determines the number of pirates per hijacking. Pirates use different boats for carrying out hijackings in the Gulf of Aden. They use three types of boats to hijack vessels:
• Yemeni fishing boats; 18 pirates can board such boats to carry out further hijackings.
• Speedboats; to catch up to the escaping vessels. 9 pirates board such boats.
• Smaller speedboats; 7 pirates can board such boats.
What do you mean by Yemeni fishing boats? Do pirates use Yemeni boats to attack vessels?
Yes. Yemeni boats are part of the deal. Some Yemeni boat owners deal with the pirates, by borrowing their boats to pirates. Then they are given their share of whatever ransom found.
During your time in piracy, could you remember of any boat from Yemeni businessmen they gave you to carry out hijackings?
My pirate group had struck a deal with two Yemeni businessmen to use their vessel. They agreed, and we used it for some time. They are facilitators, they gave us petrol, weapons and all required equipments for possible attacks.
Where did you keep the hostages in the vessels you hijacked?
They were kept in one of the rooms in the ship or boat. Special pirates are assigned to keep guards of them.
How many pirate groups are there?
(With a laugh) These pirates are numerous. They are everywhere, in all coastal cities of Somalia, Kenya, and Yemen.
Where are they located?
This is determined by the coast they sail from, and the coast to sail to with hijacked ships. Pirate locations include Gara’ad, Eyl, Hobyo, Harardhere and many more. They also have men at main cities; spy men who cautiously follow movements of administrations against piracy, but those guys remain unknown.
Do you know of any foreign pirate investors?
Of course, piracy is invested by foreigners as mentioned above. During my time in piracy, there were foreign individuals in Yemen and Kenya who invested us.
How do you select which vessels to hijack?
We based selections on the owners of the ship, but there are two additional methods to select a target vessel:
• Tourism vessels
• A tanker, either petrol tanker, chemical tanker, fish tanker. Pirates like tankers the best for its vulnerability and simplicity to be hijacked. It short, thus easy for boarding.
Do pirates recruit children?
They recruit indiscriminately, as long as recruits fulfill the following requirements:
• Be a sea expert
• Be a proficient swimmer
• Be strong
Do you have a family?
Yes, I got married recently when I left piracy.
Why did you decide to quit?
It is a risky job. I previously joined piracy through the persuasion of a friend, but now I repented. I was advised by my parents, good friends and religious scholars.
What do you do now?
I did a course in welding, and I plan to start a garage business to earn legitimate money. Money got through piracy is illegitimate ‘Haram.” It is money you have not worked for.
What would like to tell your friends who are still pirates?
I say to them “Repent to Allah” Quit piracy, and reform yourselves.
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