Somalia: investigation into the country of pirates

The Gulf of Aden, off the coast of Somalia, is the number one piracy point in the world. In 2008 alone, there were 90 hostage takings of ships, including the French sailboats Ponant and Carré d'as. But also cargo ships, tankers, fishing boats. The pirates, mostly former, over-armed and ready-to-kill fishers, come from Puntland, an officially Somali coastline that is beyond the control of any legal authority. To understand how these pirates operate, Patrick Forestier and Mathieu Firmin conducted the investigation in the very heart of their sanctuary in Bosaso, Puntland. They met the pirates themselves, but also those who hunt them. During their reporting, they will even find themselves in direct contact with a couple of Germans, even as they are taken hostage. And they themselves will be targeted by pirates who will ambush them.
Directed by Patrick Forestier
Pictures of Matthieu Firmin
Editing by Thomas Sussfeld
Special Investigation, Canal +