Pirates emerging off new coast of Africa

Pirates are once again threatening merchant ships off the coast of Africa.

Pirates Suddenly Emerging Against Merchant Vessels Off New Coast of Africa

Pirates are once again threatening merchant ships off the coast of Africa. But now, most of the attacks are coming not off the eastern coast near Somalia, but in the Atlantic along the west coast near Nigeria. Moreover, today’s new pirates’ weapons, tactics, and demands are far more formidable, dangerous and destabilizing.

Unlike their Somali brethren, who typically kidnap their victims and hold them for ransom, west coast pirates attack and attempt to seize ships as prizes. This past April, west-coast pirates killed one crew member and injured another during an attack on a German-owned tanker. Though the ship was being guarded by an armed security team, its force was outgunned and overpowered by the attacking pirates. As for any kind of naval protection, there was none.

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Source: nysun.com