Somali president will be in Dubai for antipiracy summit

Somalia's president will take part in a multi-national conference in Dubai that aims to bring an end to piracy.

Government officials from more than 50 countries are to attend a global anti-piracy conference starting in Dubai on Wednesday.

DUBAI // The Somali president, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, is to attend the global antipiracy conference in Dubai today, affirming his country's commitment to fight the menace.
Mr Ahmed, who will also seek funding for development projects to root out piracy, will be among foreign ministers, military officials, government officers from more than 50 countries, and heads of maritime industries.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the port operator DP World organised the two-day conference, titled: "A Regional Response to Maritime Piracy: Enhancing Public-Private Partnerships and Strengthening Global Engagement."
Pirate attacks off Somalia have disrupted the Gulf of Aden shipping route, through which 20 per cent of world trade passes.
"The president is here to show the world that the country wants piracy to be eradicated once and for all," said Hussein Mahamed, the charge d'affaires of the Somali Embassy in the UAE. "We also want to thank the UAE Government for the initiative it has taken."
At last year's counter-piracy conference in Dubai, the international community pledged US$5 million (Dh18.3m) towards training, security and improving the livelihoods of people in Somalia and neighbouring states.
The UAE also pledged its support to improve security and strengthen development programmes.
Somali pirates cost governments and the shipping industry up to US$6.9 billion last year, the advocacy group One Earth Future Foundation says.
Somalia has lacked a strong central administration since the removal of the dictator Siad Barre in 1991. The international community hopes law and order and political stability will be restored in August with a new parliament. Mr Ahmed has said he would stand as a candidate for a second term.
The country's antipiracy requests to the global community include investment in naval equipment and the training of national security forces.
"We must address the root cause of piracy by reaching out to the Somali people, and for this we need the international community's help," Mr Mahamed said.
"We need to convince them that piracy is not the solution, and for this we need sustainable economic development and investments in rebuilding Somalia."
The agenda at today's conference covers new counter-initiatives on sea and land, and the changing threat from pirates, who have shifted from large vessels to fast-moving skiffs.
At least 35 hostages died last year. The number taken fell to 555 last year from 645 in 2010, the latest figures released by the One Earth Future foundation and the International Maritime Bureau show.
The rise in the number of private companies providing armed security to vessels is also a concern. There are recommendations by the International Maritime Organisation on the use of force, but there is no definite industry standard.
Flares and shots in the air are among the methods that are used to warn raiders of an armed team on board.
"There is a need for more transparency because one of the challenges now is the proliferation of maritime security agencies," said Simon Osborne, sales director of the company Protection Vessels International.
"Although there are recommendations out there, these must be regulations that all companies must adhere to, because this will raise standards across the board and improve safety and security."
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