Is Somalia now a private hunting reserve for the US?

[Abwaan]

 

Somali ostrich, possibly dangerous, probably not a terrorist

 

extraordinary rendition of Somali wildlife

 

Has Somalian wildlife been enlisted by al Qaeda? Are the ostriches and oryx harboring terrorists? Or is Somalia just on the receiving end of another form of piracy?

 

Reported by Mareeg Online:

 

People living along the pirate-infested central Somalia coastline have been scared by helicopters bearing US flags.

…

The US troops in Somalia are now hunting the country’s wildlife under the guise of fighting pirates or protecting the Somali coastline.

 

The environmentalists have especially pointed their finger of blame at the administrations Some Somali regions of exporting the illegally commodities and the national properties those are reportedly signed private contracts with foreign agencies.

 

They have threatened that everything is now being recorded and one day those responsible and those giving them the facilitation for the export will be brought before the justice.

 

And from Garowe Online:

 

“Three helicopters landed three separate days,” said elder Mohamed Hussein Warsame, quoting witnesses and community leaders.

 

Soldiers jumped out of the helicopters and loaded live animals, including deer and ostriches, the he added. The helicopters then returned to a warship off the coast.

 

Mr. Warsame said the foreign soldiers used a technique to subdue the animals, some of which are extremely fast and agile.

 

He indicated that the identity of the warships remained unknown, but that locals have reported seeing the American flag hovering above one of the warships in the distance.

 

Foreign warships from a number of countries, mainly in the West, are patrolling Somalia’s waters in an international anti-piracy campaign.

 

Since 1991, when the country’s last government imploded, Somalia’s long and unprotected coastline became subject to illegal practices including overfishing and toxic waste dumping.

 

Is this one of the benefits to local people of “nation building” and “peace keeping” in the “ungoverned spaces”, to be robbed of your wildlife heritage?