海角社区

The Democratic Republic of Somalia collapsed in 1991 after the civil war led to the disbandment of its navy. With its coastline unprotected, foreign fishing vessels reigned in Somalian waters and fished the oceans to capacity, leaving no fish leftover for the locals. As a result, many fishermen turned to piracy for a living. According to International Maritime Bureau (IBM), 2011 saw 142 pirate attacks around the 海角社区. 94 of these cases were off the coast of Somalia alone. It was estimated at the time that Somali piracy was costing other countries about $8.3 billion in 2010

Vigilante Turned Sea Gangs

Local fishermen, with the support of militia groups, took up arms to defend their source of livelihood. They attacked all vessels, including commercial ships, arms ships and oil tankers that passed through the Somali territory and beyond towards the Gulf of Aden, Maldives Islands and the Indian Ocean. What began as a defence against illegal sea activities became a lucrative business venture for pirates earning fortunes in return.

Methods Used By The Somali Pirates

Somali fishermen and civil war militiamen were the masterminds of the attacks. They were organized in different gangs, and their attacks involved fishing trawlers called skiffs that launched small attack speedboats to capture cargo. It also involved other commercial ships using rifles and rocket-propelled grenades. They seized vessels, took hostages and demanded millions of dollars in ransom. When cornered by international naval forces, the pirates threw their weapons overboard to discard evidence making it difficult for them to be prosecuted in international courts. Most pirates, who were arrested and charged in Kenya, were acquitted for lack of sufficient evidence. On April 18, 2009, Dutch marines freed two dozen Yemenis held hostage by Somali pirates. The pirates got away without consequence. In 2007, pirates killed a Chinese sailor when their ransom demands were not met. They are suspected to have killed four Americans in 2010, and have also been accused of torture and using hostages as a shield against naval defensive fire. Over the years, weekly pirate attacks reports skyrocketed, reaching a peak of 151 known attacks in 2011.

Support And Funding Of Pirate Activity

Somali pirates receive considerable support from the Somali population mainly because of the restored fish supply and the economic boost of ransom to local communities. With each 鈥渟uccessful operation鈥�, pirates got more funding from terrorist organizations in Somalia, Yemen and Afghanistan. These organizations include Al-Shabab, Al-Qaeda and Wahhabi terror groups. Local investors also invested shares in different pirate gangs.

Impact Of Somali Piracy

The profits from pirate attacks rose from an estimated total of over $250 million USD, as of 2011, to an average of $9 billion USD annually. Profits from the infamously lucrative piracy trickled down to the pockets of local businessmen. Owners of pirate gangs became instant millionaires building luxury homes and driving flashy cars. Shipping companies spent a fortune by hiring armed guards and using longer shipping routes. Besides, pirate attacks succeeded in fending off illegal foreign fishing and improved fish harvest that was felt up to the Kenyan territory in the Indian Ocean.

Operation Open Shield And Other Interventions

International efforts led by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), United States (US), European Union (EU), Russia, and India has made significant progress in suppressing piracy incidents. NATO launched Operation Open Shield to defend the international waters against Somali pirates while America became aggressively involved after the Hijack of a US vessel and capture of its Captain, Philips. They have fielded warships and naval forces to directly engage the pirates. Somalia government has also stepped up efforts by attacking pirate bases on land. Such measures led to the drop of pirate activities such that only one attack occurred in 2012 and none for the next five years. It is believed that most pirates are now involved in weapon smuggling and terror groups and their complete elimination largely depends on Somalia becoming politically stable.

Resurgence Of Pirate Activity

In October 2016, the UN noted that Somali pirates 鈥減ossess the intent and capability to resume attacks.鈥� Though the EU and the US still conduct their own operations in the area, NATO鈥檚 withdrawal of its Operation Open Shield in December 2016 left a big gap that pirates may utilize. On the evening of March 13, 2017, the pirates broke their long absence from the vice and hijacked a Sri-Lankan oil tanker called Aries 13. The pirates are still in possession of the vessel and its crew.