This whole problem with pirates from Africa is not a new thing.  As a nation we struggled against this in the past.  See some basic information about that HERE.  When Thomas Jefferson was president many nations merely paid tribute to these pirates to avoid conflicts.  Jefferson & the rest of the US was tired of this game and waged war against them.  Several decisive victories were won against these pirates.  In April 1805 we victoriously raided their stronghold of Tripoli (remember the Marine's song line, "From the shores of Tripoli"...).  After a bit the pirates got bold again, thinking we were weakened by the War of 1812, and started their same old nonsense.  We responded as before and with a fleet of 10 ships led by veterans of the first Barbary Wars, we captured many of the pirates' ships and once again had a decisive victory.