How does Somalian make money

Earning money in Somalia has nothing to do with education, gender or age. It has nothing do with past experience or their level of intellect. Their basic rule of making money is have guns and boats, have money. Can you believe it, that functionally illiterate people in Somalia, a country of more than 8 million ruled by warlords, have become millionaires, while others who are absolutely brilliant are perpetually broke.

How in the world the Somalian make lots of money then? Piracy. Millions worth of ransom money from their pirate hostages.

Move over Captain Jack Sparrow

Here are some interesting information that is available on the lavish life styles of Somali pirates. Some of the interesting features of Somali pirates and their lavish life styles are:

* Rampant piracy in Somalia is in many ways socially acceptable but become a nightmare to ocean vessel passing Somalia.
* Most of the Somali pirates are young, between 20 and 35 years of age.
* On an average Somali pirates collect a ransom of $2 million for each captured vessel.
* Somali pirates have money; they have power; and they are getting stronger day by day.
* Somali women say “Marrying a pirate is every Somali girl’s dream. He has power, money, immunity, the weapons to defend the tribe and funds to give to the militias in civil war.”
* Somali pirates wed the most beautiful girls; they are building big houses; they have new cars; new guns.
* “One night I got $1,000 from a pirate,” a prostitute from Djibouti said. “But the luckiest is to sleep with the group leader. You get $3,000.”
* a 36 year old mother of five says “Our children are not worrying about food now, and they go to Islamic schools in the morning and play soccer in the afternoon. They are happy”.
* Educated Somali youth says “Women here don’t talk to you if you are not a pirate”
* Somali pirates don’t mind to look after the hostages well as they get hefty ransom in return. Special restaurants have come up to supply food for the crews of the hijacked ships.

Somalian honest money

Other than make money from piracy, other Somalian earn honest money by being employed in Saudi Arabia or Europe then send their money home to Somali.

Have Khat, Have Money

If Somalian are not making money from piracy or waiting for money send from abroad, their local thugs are into khat (or drug) distribution in addition to guns and weapons.

What can piracy money do good in Somalia?

If you want to understand what goes on in Somalia, you need to understand their lawless situation for last decade or two. There are no policies, no government, no leadership...just abysmal poverty and hunger. People would do ANYTHING for food and a decent livelihood.

Those pirates are supporting hundreds .. maybe thousands of people. They are a primary source of income for tens of villages because money thru piracy is the only 'industry' in these villages. They (pirates) are the primary spenders and they pour huge amount of money via shopping clothes, food, smokes, khat, vehicles, houses and other personal pleasure. They lubricate the local economy with their spending. They are considered heroes in their villages - irrespective of how they earn money.

No wonder there are hundreds in line to join them. Think the pirates are hiring?

Related posts:
* World vs Somali Pirates