This week I am in Puntland, a schizophrenic region sandwiched between the self-proclaimed country of Somaliland - formerly part of the Republic of Somalia - and South Central (where Mogadishu is located). Puntland is semi-autonomous, with its own government, but still has ties to the TFG. Discussions are currently underway on the revision of its constitution in its capital Garowe.
The warm, salty, and humid air on the coast here always makes me feel like I am on vacation, despite the fact I am confined to a compound here and spend most of the day (and night) in air-conditioned rooms. Puntland has the largest portion of the former Republic of Somalia's significant coastline (the longest on the continent of Africa), but is also home to those pesky pirates that have become synonymous with Somalia and its on-going struggles.
It seems that based on what I have read recently, the pirates have either moved far from the shores of Somalia, presumably in pursuit of bigger - or better - fish, or further inland in search of other nefarious opportunities. They seem to be an important part of the economy here, despite also causing plenty of trouble for Somalis and the development of Puntland - and Somalia. As with Al-Shabaab, the people here seem to have mixed feelings about the pirates. Depending on who is "liberating" an area from the pirate activities, the people may not end up better off when the pirates are gone, particularly when the money goes with them.
Puntland's gorgeous coastline has also become a hot bed for human trafficking. One of the latest attempts was foiled by the Puntland government, where eight girls and a boy were taken from another area in Somalia and brought here to be shipped off to Yemen (and points beyond, surely). http://allafrica.com/stories/201204160616.html
All kinds of "sexy" things happening here, keeping consultants, policy wonks, and aid workers busy little bees in this crazy Somali hive...
