South Africa Government and Mozambique Combine to Fight Somali Pirates

Mozambique and South Africa have agreed to cooperate in fighting piracy, which is spreading south from Somalia.  The two countries will operate joint patrols in the Indian Ocean between Mozambique and Madagasar and press the international community to finance beefing up the African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia.  An agreement was signed in Pretoria by the defense ministers of both countries.

The pirates attacked a ship off Mozambique last December.  The Mozambique channel carries 30 per cent of the world's oil and 99 percent of South Africa's maritime traffic.  South African Secretary of Defense says piracy is costing eight billion euros a year.  Prosecuting pirates costs 21 million euros a year and 104 million euros is spent paying ransoms. 

The Mozambique and South African navies will share patrols, training and information.