Africa must pool resources to fight piracy

South Africa's navy chief, Vice Admiral Johannes Mudimu told delegates at a conference on African coastal security that without high-level political commitment and resource allocation, little will be achieved in fighting piracy at sea.

He told Agence France Presses that southern African countries had adopted a maritime safety strategy because of the real threat of piracy in southern waters of the Indian Ocean.

South Africa, working with Mozambique, currently has a permanent naval presence in the Mozambique Channel and has managed to repel pirates scouting the area for hijacking opportunities.

According to the International Maritime Bureau, piracy has reached record levels this year with 352 attacks reported worldwide so far this year.

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