The sponsors of the two-year-old program announced to SCS that funding was to cease and that all expatriates expats must be out of Somalia by the end of June. The move came as a surprise since not only had the program just reached its operational status but a series of lightening raids had sent pirates along the coast of Puntland into a chaotic retreat.
The program was already in financial arrears and the short notice and slammed wallet caused a serious shortage of operational funds. Back at the PMPF base, just west of Bosaso airport, there now sits millions of dollars in heavy construction equipment, fixed and rotary wing aircraft, ocean-going ships, RHIBs, heavy transport trucks and 4X4 vehicles that suddenly became idle. Pirates like Isse Yulux who had fled the PMPF with his two hijacked tankers from Hafun to Calulla must have breathed a sigh of relief as he anxiously awaited a hastily negotiated ransom drop.
The timing does not seem to be coincidental. An early draft, expected to be highly critical of the PMPF program, was turned in two weeks ago for review.
Despite this hostility from the UN, the Puntland and Mogadishu-based program has tenaciously beefed up their staff, recruits, equipment and activities. Three major shipments from the UAE delivered thousands of tons of new equipment while a chartered Antonov was kept busy ferrying in staff and supplies.
The force transitioned from well drilling and delivery of water, medical and food supplies into actually entering pirate held areas. The security provided by the militarized police force allowed Puntland government officials to sit down and negotiate with a range of friendly to hostile communities. In some areas like Hafun, the pirates and government were one and the same. Last month the PMPF went operational against two pirate groups who had hijacked a chemical tanker and large Suezmax oil tanker.
