Pirates prowling the waters off the coast of Africa have struck again four times since Monday. The world’s shipping firms are only able to respond by either paying up millions in ransom, or changing the way they do business. Many shipping companies are now choosing to avoid the Suez canal, threatening to damage Egypt’s economy. The Suez is the country’s third biggest income earner... 

(Part I) With Somalia’s interim government in exile divided, and the fragmented Islamic opposition battling each other, what is the future of Somalia as the world watches civilians starve and super tankers hijacked? Could the threat of piracy be the impetus for finding a solution to the complicated Somali affair? (Part II)  Read More →

By Martin Plaut BBC Africa analyst Page last updated at 14:41 GMT, Wednesday, 19 November 2008 Pirates captured the Sirius Star tanker at the weekend Somali pirates have been accused of forming what is described as an "unholy high seas alliance" with some of the country’s Islamist insurgents. Jane’s Terrorism and Security Monitor says certain insurgents are using... 

www.chinaview.cn 2008-11-19 20:56:27  KAMPALA, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) — Ministers from 14 African countries have urged the African Union (AU) to demarcate international boundaries among member states in a bid to reduce the increasing number of boundary conflicts, a top government official said here on Wednesday.     Kasirivu Atwooki, Uganda’s minister of state for lands... 

Somalia / Piracy / Eritrea  MOGADISHU, Somalia, November 19, 2008/African Press Organization (APO)/ — US Department of State Daily Press Briefing Sean McCormack, Spokesman       QUESTION: Do you have any information on the Saudi oil tanker that was kidnapped off the east coast of Africa and is now in a Somali port frequented by pirates? MR. MCCORMACK: I think DOD...