UN Approves Piracy Land Pursuit

The United Nations Security Council has unanimously approved a U.S. resolution allowing allied countries to pursue Somali pirates on land as well as at sea.

The resolution is basically an extension of powers countries already have to enter Somali waters to chase pirates. However, the ability to pursue on land is a new policy the U.S. deems necessary to rid the region of pirates retreating to the safety of land bases. Additionally, the Chinese government said it will consider sending warships to the region when it receives permission from the Somali transitional government.

The UN “Land Pursuit Resolution” came as several vessels were seized by Somali pirates off Yemen. The resolution was the fourth approved by the Security Council since June provides authority for ‘one year’ for countries to use "all necessary measures" by land or air to stop acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea.

The US-drafted resolution was co-sponsored by Belgium, France, Greece, Liberia and South Korea. However, Indonesia, which also suffers from piracy, was a strong critic of the plan due to the precedent it might set for chasing pirates on land. But in the end it voted in favor.