US Ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger stated that the US will help Kenya scrutinize all containerized cargo imports through the port of Mombasa, as part of its ‘Mega Ports Initiative.’ The project is intended to deter, detect and interdict illicit trafficking in nuclear weapons and other radioactive materials in the international maritime system. The ambassador noted that Kenya had been selected because of its strategic position in the eastern African region, and on account of past terror attacks as well as threats posed by neighbouring lawless Somalia. The International Maritime Bureau (IMB), based in Kuala Lumpur, reported that pirates off Somalia had staged 66 attacks since January 2009, and were still holding 14 ships and 260 crew members as hostages. Somalia’s 1,900-mile (3,057-kilometre) long coastline borders one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. IMB data indicates that there were 111 attacks in 20081.

• 1. “US to help Kenya in war on piracy,” Business Daily, April 16, 2009, at http://www.bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14081&...