Piracy in Somalia (2005-)

Piracy off the coast of Somalia has been a threat to international shipping since the second phase of the Somali Civil War in the early 21st century. Since 2005, many international organizations, including the International Maritime Organization and the World Food Programme, have expressed concern over the rise in acts of piracy. Piracy has impeded the delivery of shipments and increased shipping expenses, costing an estimated $6.6 to $6.9 billion a year in global trade according to Oceans Beyond Piracy (OBP). According to the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), a veritable industry of profiteers has also risen around the piracy. Insurance companies, in particular, have profited from the pirate attacks, as insurance premiums have increased significantly.

A United Nations report and several news sources have suggested that piracy off the coast of Somalia was caused in part by illegal fishing. According to the DIW and the U.S. House Armed Services Committee, the dumping of toxic waste in Somali waters by foreign vessels also severely constrained the ability of local fishermen to earn a living. In response, the fishermen began forming armed groups to stop the foreign ships. They eventually turned to hijacking commercial vessels for ransom as an alternate source of income. In 2009, a survey by WardheerNews found that approximately 70 percent of the local coastal communities at the time "strongly support[ed] the piracy as a form of national defense of the country's territorial waters". The pirates also believed that they were protecting their fishing grounds and exacting justice and compensation for the marine resources stolen. Some reports have suggested that, in the absence of an effective national coast guard following the outbreak of the civil war and the subsequent disintegration of the Armed Forces, local fishermen formed organized groups in order to protect their waters. This is reflected in the names adopted by some of the pirate networks, such as the National Volunteer Coast Guard, which are testimony to the pirates' initial motivations. However, as piracy became substantially more lucrative, other reports have speculated that financial gain became the primary motive for the pirates.

Belgian Naval Force Intercepts Suspected Pirates

Taken on: 2012-12-15
Source: European Union Naval Force Somalia

Investigating Suspicious Pirates

Taken on: 2012-10-11
Source: European Union Naval Force Somalia

German Naval Force Boards a Suspicious Vessel, Indian Ocean, 2012

Taken on: 2012-03-02
Source: European Union Naval Force Somalia

Armed Guard on a Merchant Ship

Taken on: 2011-12-31
Source: Wikimedia/Hanuma Bhakta

Royal Marines Commandos board a Somalian whaler

Taken on: 2011-11-28
Source: Wikimedia/LA(Phot) Dave Jenkins

Mock Assault

Taken on: 2010-08-21
Source: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Herbert D. Banks Jr.

Suspected Somali Pirates Captured

Taken on: 2009-05-13
Source: Wikimedia/U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Eric L. Beauregard

Responding to Distress Signal

Taken on: 2009-05-13
Source: Wikimedia/U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Eric L. Beauregard/Released

Counter Piracy Operations

Taken on: 2009-02-20
Source: Wikimedia/U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason R. Zalasky

Suspected Pirates

Taken on: 2009-02-11
Source: Wikimedia/Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Jason R. Zalasky, USN

USS San Antonio

Taken on: 2009-01-12
Source: Wikimedia/Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class John K. Hamilton, USN

Somali Pirate

Taken on: 2008-08-11
Source: Wikimedia/Jan van Rijn, Dutch mariner