Strategies for Countering Somalian Piracy: Responding to the Evolving Threat

Abstract

Modern piracy has emerged as the bane of the contemporary seafarer. Having first made headlines in 2005, Somalian piracy has evolved considerably within a short period of time and has emerged as a major maritime threat with transnational characteristics in the Indian Ocean region. The Somalian piracy, which had extensive tribal linkages initially, has now developed extensive linkages with terrorist organisations and well-financed organised criminal gangs based inland and modifying its modalities of operation over time. Somalia, regarded as a failed state, has made progress in introducing a sense of democracy and stability by the election of a new President but the efficacy of basic democratic institutions is low and hence governance is still rudimentary. In such an atmosphere, the solution for eradicating piracy does not exclusively lie at sea as is often perceived by most governments. The innumerable warships in the region can at best suppress the number of incidents temporarily, as has been done currently. But complete eradication necessitates the espousal of multi-pronged proactive approaches that need to be collaborated by all the major stakeholders and the affected states—otherwise piracy will undoubtedly see a resurgence shattering the current sense of achievement.