The Complex Relationship Between Somali Piractes And Somali Islamic Extremists

Members of the hardline Islamist rebel group al-Shabaab parade through the streets of Somalia's capital Mogadishu, in this January 2010 file photo. A showdown between Somalia's pirates and the country's most powerful Islamic army was avoided this week, but the standoff shed light on the growing and complicated relationship between the two groups. (Feisal Omar/Reuters)

Somalia's Pirates and Islamists Clash and Cooperate -- ABC News

Pirates Pay Taxes on Ransoms to al-Shabaab, But Resist Takeover of Stronghold.

A showdown between Somalia's pirates and the country's most powerful Islamic army was avoided this week, but the standoff shed light on the growing and complicated relationship between the two groups.

Somalia's fiercest Islamic group al-Shabaab had advanced on the pirate stronghold of Harardhere, but were repelled by a pro-government militia.

The rampant piracy of the last few years has yet to be directly tied to the network of Islamic fighters that has been classified by Washington and other western countries as terrorists.

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My Comment: I smell one group being jealous and hungry for the money that the other group is making.

Expect payoffs and protection money to be passed from the pirates to the Islamists in the next few weeks.