Piracy in Somalia and Operation Atalanta: The Need for a Diplomatic Option

Abstract

In this age of globalization, municipal concerns impinge negatively or positively on the fate of or future of other nations. Piracy in Somalia has moved from a domestic concern to an international one and the country is largely unable to discharge its responsibilities to its citizens and thus incapable of effectively meeting its international treaty obligations. Piracy in Somalia thus impedes maritime operations along the East African coast of the Indian Ocean. One concerted international response to the maritime criminality in that part of the world is operation Atalanta. This paper uses the realist theoretical framework to argue that this EU effort serves the commercial and strategic interests of nations that benefit directly and indirectly from maritime trade. But the essentially military response to piracy which EU NAVFOR Somalia stands for will not bring a sustainable solution to the problem since some of the pirates see their activities as pure survival strategy. It therefore suggests the diplomatic option to re-build the failed Somali State � so that the state of Somalia can discharge its responsibilities to its citizens as well as the international community, stopped illegal fishing in Somali waters and effectively check illegal dumping of chemical and industrial waste in that region.