German ship arrives in Mombasa…4 months late

08/08/09 13:30 CET

world news

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After four months in the hands of Somali pirates the German container ship Hansa Stavanger along with its crew has arrived in Mombasa with its cargo.

The ship was captured on April 4th along with its crew of Philipinos, Germans, Russians and Ukrainians, who have reportedly been suffering from food shortages during their ordeal. It was escorted into the Kenyan port by an EU naval force after a ransom was paid for the ship’s release. Gangs of Somali pirates have made millions of dollars in recent years by capturing merchant ships off the Horn of Africa, making the vital sea lanes there the most dangerous in the world despite the presence of several foreign navies.More about: Somali pirates, Somalia

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Mali: Rebel groups agree to creation of Islamic state

Two Rebel groups have agreed to merge and create an independent Islamic state in Northern Mali. After seizing Azawad – an area larger than France – two months ago, the groups had initially disagreed, with the secular Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA)…