Somali pirate leaders benefit from 'climate of impunity'

But pirate leaders are adapting and diversifying into new businesses, and are now increasingly involved in land-based kidnap for ransom of foreign tourists, Independent Online says. According to an investigation by the UN Monitoring Group on Somalia, the country's president has shielded a top pirate leader from arrest by issuing him a diplomatic passport.

According to Independent Online, the Group said that in spite of three international task forces and efforts by a dozen national governments in Maritime counter-piracy efforts, serious legal obstacles remain that "impede the prosecution and sanctioning of pirate leaders and kingpins".

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