News
Two weeks after hijack, the blame game continues
Posted Wednesday, October 8 2008 at 21:15
Thursday, October 9, 2008 is the 14th day since Somali pirates hijacked the Ukranian ship.
Chronology of events:
September 26: Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean seize Ukrainian ship carrying 33 military tanks and other military hardware destined for the Mombasa port.
The pirates struck off the coast of Puntland and commandeer ship to Somali territorial waters.
Military spokesman Bogita Ongeri says Defence minister Yusuf Haji is collaborating with various countries whose navies operate in the Indian Ocean to get back the ship.
September 27: Government spokesman Alfred Mutua says Kenya has not received any official communication, ransom demand or otherwise, from the pirates.
The pirates demand Sh2.34 billion ransom.
September 28: US naval ships and fighter aircraft surround the hijacked ship.
The captain of the Ukrainian ship, mv Faina, dies after falling ill.
Pirates lower the ransom to US $20 million (Sh1.4 billion) and vow not to release the ship until the whole amount is paid.
Military sources indicate the seized military hardware was destined for Southern Sudan and not Kenya.
September 29: Lt Nathan Christensen, of the US Navy’s 5th Fleet in Bahrain, is quoted by the Associated Press saying the arms were heading to an unknown buyer in Sudan.
However, Kenya’s military spokesman Bogita Ongeri, dismisses the claim saying the arms were Kenya’s.
Kenyan Government releases two documents, a bill of lading and a letter from the Ukrainian exporter, to prove it had bought the cargo on the hijacked ship.
September 30: The Press counsellor at the Sudanese embassy in Nairobi, Ms Somaya Abdel Sadig says arms do not belong to Southern Sudan.
Three pirates are reported dead after a shoot-out in the ship. Two groups of the pirates had argued over what to do with the deadly arsenal.
October 1: It emerges that purchase of arms by Southern Sudan is in violation of a United Nations embargo on arms sales.
October 2: The European Union vows to launch a quick military strike against pirates.
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