MOGADISHU, Somalia – A Comoros-registered cargo ship marks the fourth ship hijacked and the fifth attacked by Somali pirates this week alone. This is just a series of attacks this year by pirates off the coast of Somalia. The Al Marjan was heading from Somalia to Kenya on Wednesday when gunmen attacked the vessel. It took several days for officials confirm the hijacking.

Two other ships were also attacked and held by pirates off Somalia’s coast on Saturday. On Sunday, pirates in two speed boats attempted to seize a UN World Food Programme (WFP) ship 60 miles from Mogadishu. The ship had just unloaded food at the nearby port. According to Peter Smerdon, a spokesman for the U.N, this makes the third attack on a WFP ship. Although, eighty percent of UN aid reach Somalia by sea, the agency has had to revert to air transport, which is more expensive.

The overthrow of the Islamic government in December by government and Ethiopian troops, has left the country insecure and unstable. The transitional government has been struggling to regain control of the country however incessant attacks by insurgents has made that feat impossible. The coast has been left virtually un-policed.

For more information please see:

Yahoo (AFP)- WFP  Renews Plea for Naval Vessels After Pirates Strike in Somalia – 22 October 2007

Reuters: Africa – Missing Ship Feared Seized by Pirates off Somalia – 22 October 2007

Yahoo (AP) – Somali Pirates Seize Ship off Africa – 22 October 2007

Impunity Watch – Piracy and Kidnapping Deepens Food Crisis -18 October 2007