Somalia: A Weak Link Between al Qaeda and Somali Pirates

Much of the media's attention has focused on links between al Qaeda and Somali pirates operating in the Gulf of Aden. Though there are several interested actors — including al Qaeda — that would want to play up this connection, the al Qaeda-pirate link is weak at best. Any future attempts by al Qaeda to increase cooperation with Somali pirates are likely to be stifled by Somalia's clan-based society and its commercial interests.