The MV Maersk Alabama, carrying ACDI/VOCA food aid meant for a USAID project in Rwanda, is hijacked by Somali pirates. The story took a dramatic turn after its sailors regained control of the ship, but the pirates managed to seize the captain and take him hostage in a lifeboat. He was freed in a rescue when Navy Seal snipers firing off the fantail of the USS Bainbridge killed the remaining three pirates on the lifeboat. ACDI/VOCA’s portion of vegetable oil, bulgur wheat and other agricultural materials was safely off-loaded and forwarded to Kigali.

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