Mogadishu (Alshahid)-The Founding father of Somalia Pirates is shielded by Transitional Federal Government leaders and travels on a diplomatic passport, according U.N. Monitoring Group on Somalia report to the Security Council obtained by Alshahid News.

Pirate leader Mohamed Abdi Hassan “Afweyne” reportedly showed the passport to immigration officers in Malaysia and produced a document that showed he worked in counter-piracy activities.

“Although pirates have been more active than ever in 2011, the adoption of Best Management Practices by the shipping industry, more effective international counter-piracy naval operations, and the increasing use of private maritime security companies (PMSCs) have substantially lowered the number of vessels successfully hijacked.” stated the report.

“As a result, pirates have to adapt and diversify, engaging in kidnap for ransom on land, and marketing their services as ‘counter piracy’ experts and ‘consultants’ in ransom negotiations. This evolution of the piracy business model is being driven largely by members of the Somali diaspora, whose foreign language skills, passports and bank accounts are all valuable assets.”

“But the Monitoring Group has also been able to confirm the collusion of senior TFG officials in shielding a notorious pirate kingpin from prosecution, providing him with a diplomatic passport and describing him as a “counter-piracy” envoy.”

The report said that the passport had been given “with the authorization of Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed”. Afweyne is just one of many pirates that the government is accused of sheltering.

President Sharif in a letter to the chairman of the Security Council Sanctions Committee called the report “one-sided” and described its contents as “unsubstantiated allegations.”