{"id":6658,"date":"2026-06-07T16:56:03","date_gmt":"2026-06-07T16:56:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/en\/home\/somali-piracy-returns-what-does-it-mean"},"modified":"2026-06-07T17:17:33","modified_gmt":"2026-06-07T17:17:33","slug":"somali-piracy-returns-what-does-it-mean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/en\/articles\/somali-piracy-returns-what-does-it-mean","title":{"rendered":"Somali Piracy Returns: what does it Mean?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press. <\/strong> <\/span>Somali researcher Shafi Abtidon believes that the resurgence of Somali piracy since late 2023 is not merely a transient criminal activity but reflects the interplay of local, regional, and international factors that have recreated the environment that previously allowed the phenomenon to flourish. After years of relative decline, piracy networks have resumed activity from the shores of Puntland, taking advantage of new developments in the region and the ongoing structural problems that neither the Somali state nor the international community has managed to resolve definitively.<\/p>\n

The Return of the Sea Ghosts<\/b><\/p>\n

The researcher begins his study by emphasizing that the renewed activity of Somali pirates is not entirely similar to what it was during the infamous piracy wave between 2007 and 2011. The new pirates are more organized and technologically advanced, using ships that help them track the movements of commercial vessels and oil tankers in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.<\/p>\n

This resurgence comes at a time when the region is experiencing widespread security disturbances related to events in the Red Sea, which has led to renewed international concerns about the return of one of the most dangerous threats to global navigation in recent decades. The researcher notes that previous piracy operations cost the global economy substantial amounts, with estimates from the World Bank indicating that the value of ransoms paid between 2005 and 2012 ranged from $339 million to $413 million.<\/p>\n

He also points out that recent attacks are no longer confined to waters close to Somali shores but have extended to farther areas, reflecting an evolution in the operational capabilities of pirates and their ability to operate in broader maritime ranges.<\/p>\n

The Absence of a Maritime System<\/b><\/p>\n

The researcher places the weakness of the Somali maritime system at the forefront of the reasons that have allowed piracy to return. Despite more than two decades of attempts to rebuild the state, Somalia still lacks a maritime apparatus capable of securing its long coastline of over three thousand kilometers.<\/p>\n

He indicates that the Somali Coast Guard has not yet been able to perform an effective role in monitoring the territorial waters or pursuing piracy networks. The situation is further complicated by the presence of other armed groups operating in some coastal areas, which limits the state’s ability to exert full control over the maritime domain.<\/p>\n

In this context, the researcher highlights Turkish efforts aimed at rebuilding this sector through the establishment of a Coast Guard naval base as part of a military cooperation agreement between Ankara and Mogadishu, but he believes that these efforts have not yet reached a stage that allows for a change in the balance of power on land or at sea.<\/p>\n

The Environment Producing Piracy<\/b><\/p>\n

The researcher does not explain the return of piracy solely from a security perspective but links it to the economic and social conditions in coastal areas. Since the collapse of the Somali state, the territorial waters have been subjected to extensive foreign fishing operations that have depleted fish stocks and harmed the interests of local fishermen.<\/p>\n

This has led to a decline in traditional sources of income for many coastal residents, contributing to the emergence of a social environment more receptive to engaging in piracy activities. The researcher notes that the discourse accompanying the emergence of pirates in their early days was based on the idea of defending Somali waters against foreign ships, before the phenomenon gradually transformed into an activity based on kidnapping and ransom demands.<\/p>\n

He believes that the continuation of illegal fishing and the lack of real protection for marine resources make it difficult to eliminate the conditions that fuel the phenomenon.<\/p>\n

Sea Disturbances and the Opportunity for Return<\/b><\/p>\n

The researcher places significant importance on the regional variables that have helped reactivate piracy networks. With the outbreak of the Red Sea crisis and the intensification of Houthi attacks on ships, many international naval powers have shifted their priorities towards securing navigation in that vital corridor.<\/p>\n

This shift has led to a relative decline in direct interest in combating piracy off the Somali coast, providing pirates with an opportunity to reorganize and resume their activities. The researcher asserts that this relationship does not imply a direct connection between the two phenomena but rather reflects the impact of regional security transformations on the redistribution of international efforts.<\/p>\n

He points out that pirates have benefited from this new situation to expand their operations and return to targeting commercial vessels in areas that had previously been under more intensive maritime surveillance.<\/p>\n

The Evolution of Pirate Tools<\/b><\/p>\n

The researcher confirms that ransom remains the most important economic driver of Somali piracy. The significant returns from kidnapping operations make it an attractive activity in an environment suffering from poverty, unemployment, and weak economic opportunities.<\/p>\n

However, according to the study, the pirates no longer rely solely on the traditional means used during the past decade; they have developed their methods and benefited from more advanced techniques in tracking ships and monitoring their movements.<\/p>\n

The researcher notes that pirates are now using ships that serve as floating bases at sea, which gives them greater capability to execute attacks far from the shores and makes their operations more flexible and complex than before.<\/p>\n

Implications Beyond Somalia<\/b><\/p>\n

The effects of piracy do not stop at Somalia’s borders but extend to the global economy as a whole. The maritime corridors adjacent to Somali shores represent a vital artery for international trade, through which large quantities of goods and energy pass.<\/p>\n

The researcher believes that the return of maritime attacks leads to increased insurance and shipping costs, prompting transport companies to take additional security measures or change their routes, which impacts global trade and supply chains.<\/p>\n

Moreover, the persistence of the phenomenon threatens the economies of Horn of Africa countries and exacerbates the instability in a region already suffering from multiple security and political crises.<\/p>\n

New Regional Actors<\/b><\/p>\n

The researcher points out that the environment in which piracy networks operate today differs from that which existed a decade or two ago. There are new regional actors, increasing security tensions, smuggling networks, and armed groups operating in an overlapping geographical space extending from the Horn of Africa to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.<\/p>\n

He believes that this complex environment creates new opportunities for pirates and increases the difficulty of combating them, especially with the presence of intertwined interests, smuggling routes, and illicit activities that sometimes intersect with maritime piracy.<\/p>\n

Ways to Confront and the Future of the Phenomenon<\/b><\/p>\n

The researcher concludes that relying solely on military deterrence is insufficient to eradicate the phenomenon. International naval patrols have previously succeeded in reducing attacks, but they have not addressed the root causes driving piracy’s emergence.<\/p>\n

Therefore, any effective approach must combine security and development by rebuilding Somali maritime capabilities, supporting coastal communities, protecting fish resources from depletion, drying up the funding sources of piracy networks, and providing economic alternatives for local populations.<\/p>\n

He emphasizes at the end of the study that the return of maritime piracy represents an indicator of the ongoing structural crisis in Somalia, and that the new pirates are more advanced and coordinated than those of the past decade. Furthermore, the continuation of regional disturbances and the lack of fundamental solutions to local causes will make the phenomenon a renewed threat to international navigation in the coming years.<\/p>\n

Find more news and analyses on Africa<\/span> on the Africa Press<\/span> website<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press. Somali researcher Shafi Abtidon believes that the resurgence of Somali piracy since late 2023 is not merely a transient criminal activity but reflects the interplay of local, regional, and international factors that have recreated the environment that previously allowed the phenomenon to flourish. After years of relative decline, piracy networks have resumed activity from […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":6656,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[84],"tags":[120],"class_list":{"0":"post-6658","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-articles","8":"tag-africa"},"yoast_head":"\nSomali Piracy Returns: what does it Mean? - Africa Press English<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"-article-header-tag"> Africa-Press. 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