(Bloomberg) —
Recent instability in Yemen and the Horn of Africa is leading to a rise in maritime piracy off the coast of Somalia, raising concerns in one of the world’s busiest shipping routes.
This month alone, there have been at least three reported piracy incidents near Somalia, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations, which connects military forces with merchant vessels. This situation echoes the chaos caused by Somali pirates along the East African coast for over ten years.
Piracy incidents peaked at 176 in 2011, and a notable hijacking in 2009 inspired the 2013 Oscar-nominated film Captain Phillips, featuring Tom Hanks. The piracy problem began to decline following increased international naval patrols from forces like the European Union Naval Force (EU Navfor), the deployment of armed guards on ships, and a more effective central government in Somalia.
The ongoing instability in Yemen, where the Houthis are recognized as a terrorist group by the U.S., along with regional tensions and internal conflicts, has created opportunities for pirate networks to resume their activities, according to EU Navfor's Mission Atalanta, which monitors Somali waters.
On Friday, Atalanta successfully freed a Maltese-flagged tanker near Eyl, a coastal town known for piracy in the late 2000s.
“While piracy has been suppressed, it has not been completely eradicated,” Atalanta noted.
According to the International Maritime Bureau, five incidents occurred in the waters off Somalia and the Gulf of Aden in the nine months leading up to September.
The agency expressed concern about the recent wave of piracy incidents in the Indian Ocean.
The threat to shipping is likely to continue, as “piracy is inherently opportunistic,” stated Daniel Mueller, a senior analyst and head of the Middle East and Indian Ocean desk at the UK-based maritime-security firm Ambrey.
Mueller emphasized that addressing the underlying causes that drive individuals to piracy is crucial, beyond just military interventions to reduce such occurrences.
“Strengthening military counter-piracy efforts and enhancing vessel security measures would likely decrease the chances of attacks,” he explained. “However, these actions would only address the symptoms of piracy.”
To prevent a resurgence, Somalia’s lawmakers approved anti-piracy legislation on Monday. Unfortunately, the state lacks the necessary resources and capacity to combat this crime effectively and depends on foreign military assistance for the protection of important government officials and facilities.
Having received $4.5 billion in debt relief from international lenders in 2023, Somalia is emerging from years of civil war and is currently dealing with militias associated with global terrorist organizations.