Bileh
Encyclopedia
Bileh is a self-styled "spokesman" for Somali pirates
operating off the coast of Somalia
and based in the town of Eyl
in Puntland
.
He has issued threats on behalf of his group through the media. Recently, when pirates seized a Ukrainian ship carrying arms to Kenya, a New York Times report intimated that there was a means of directing questions to him.
Bileh is an African name sometimes spelled as Belay and pronounced as Bee-Lay. The name means above or superior.
The name Belay is also part of Ethiopian
history, Belay Zelleke
was born in 1896 in the Wollo
province of Ethiopia to a mother of Wollo Borena and to a father of Gojam Berenta origins.
In 1935 Italy invaded Ethiopia
. Like the many patriotic Ethiopians, Belay Zeleke felt the need to defend his country and led an insurgency movement against the occupation in Gojam.
Piracy in Somalia
Piracy off the coast of Somalia has been a threat to international shipping since the second phase of the Somali Civil War in the early 21st century...
operating off the coast of Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
and based in the town of Eyl
Eyl
Eyl is an ancient town in the northern Puntland region of Somalia. It is situated near the Hafun peninsula.-History:Eyl is the site of many historical artifacts from Somalia's pre-colonial period...
in Puntland
Puntland
Puntland , officially the Puntland State of Somalia , is a region in northeastern Somalia, centered on Garowe in the Nugaal province. Its leaders declared the territory an autonomous state in 1998....
.
He has issued threats on behalf of his group through the media. Recently, when pirates seized a Ukrainian ship carrying arms to Kenya, a New York Times report intimated that there was a means of directing questions to him.
Bileh is an African name sometimes spelled as Belay and pronounced as Bee-Lay. The name means above or superior.
The name Belay is also part of Ethiopian
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
history, Belay Zelleke
Belay Zelleke
Belay Zeleke was born in 1896 in the Bitchena , Ethiopia to a mother from Amhara and to a father from Gojam. At a very young age in a mysterious situation, Belay Zeleke killed his uncle which prompted him to flee his village and live as a fugitive isolated from his family and friends for the...
was born in 1896 in the Wollo
Wollo
Wollo was a historical region and province in the northeastern part of Ethiopia, with its capital city at Dessie. The province was named after the Wollo Oromo, who settled in this part of Ethiopia in the 17th century...
province of Ethiopia to a mother of Wollo Borena and to a father of Gojam Berenta origins.
In 1935 Italy invaded Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. Like the many patriotic Ethiopians, Belay Zeleke felt the need to defend his country and led an insurgency movement against the occupation in Gojam.