India Begins Prosecution of Somali Pirates

 The Maritime Executive published on 25 March 2024 an article titled "India Begins Its First Prosecution of Somali Pirates in More Than a Decade."

Indian authorities in Mumbai are now prosecuting 35 Somali pirates captured on the hijacked Bulgarian ship, the Ruen, which is being returned to Bulgaria.  The cases against the Somalis are being brought under India's Maritime Anti-Piracy laws.  

How Arms from China and Other Countries Fuel South Sudan's Civil War

The London-based Conflict Armament Research (CAR) organization published in November 2018 a major report titled "Weapon Supplies into South Sudan's Civil War: Regional Re-transfers and International Intermediaries."

While weapons originated in numerous countries, China accounts for 37 percent of the weapons and more than 99 percent of the ammunition circulating in South Sudan since 2014 as documented by the CAR. The CAR found no evidence that China supplied directly or indirectly weapons or ammunition to the SPLA since May 2014.

For a summary of the report, see an article in Foreign Policy dated 29 November 2018 titled "How European and Chinese Arms Diverted to South Sudan Fueled Its Civil War" by Robbie Gramer.

Lessons Learned in Libya

The Washington Post published on 5 August 2015 an excellent analysis titled "Libyan Force Was Lesson in Limits of U.S. Power" by Missy Ryan.  It is a cautionary tale on the limits of international military training for a national army in Libya.