In recent months, Somali pirates have staged a terrifying comeback, disrupting global maritime commerce. But their resurgence isn’t just the result of opportunistic criminals; it’s the direct consequence of a tangled web of geopolitical instability, from the war in Gaza to the Red Sea crisis.
Somali pirates have become a significant threat to international shipping, especially in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. This maritime menace is once again leaving seafarers in peril, holding merchant ships hostage for ransom, and threatening global trade. Here’s how these pirates are making a return—and why it matters for global commerce and the lives of those who risk everything to keep the world’s supply chains running.
Why Somali Pirates Are Back: The Perfect Storm
At the heart of the pirates’ revival is a perfect storm of factors, including the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the wider Red Sea crisis. The combination of these two events has caught the world off guard, with Somali pirates exploiting the distractions caused by larger geopolitical battles.
The Role of the Houthi Rebels: The Houthi insurgents in Yemen have increased their strikes on shipping routes in the Red Sea. This has drawn naval resources away from the Indian Ocean, leaving Somali pirates with fewer resources to counter them. Pirates, once isolated to Somalia’s coast, are now operating with more freedom.
Pirates, Ships, and Global Commerce: A Deadly Combination
The return of Somali piracy has placed enormous pressure on shipping lanes that carry vital goods from Asia to Europe. Shipping companies, already dealing with the ramifications of the Red Sea crisis, are now navigating even greater uncertainty. The consequences are twofold: shipping costs have soared, and delivery times have been severely delayed.
For instance, detouring around the Cape of Good Hope to avoid the Red Sea, ships are incurring an extra $1 million in operational costs. While the piracy threat is still not as severe as the 2011 peak, the gradual rise in attacks is enough to worry industry experts.
How Somali Piracy Is Affecting the Global Supply Chain:
- Increased shipping costs: Due to piracy, detours are leading to near fivefold increases in shipping costs from Asia to Europe.
- Delayed shipments: Longer routes mean that shipments are delayed by up to 10 days, affecting industries reliant on time-sensitive goods, such as electronics and food supplies.
- Disrupted trade routes: The Suez Canal, previously the shortest path between Asia and Europe, has seen a 50% drop in trade. The longer detours are exacerbating the situation.
The Real Story Behind Somali Piracy
Piracy in Somalia is not a new phenomenon. It dates back decades, fuelled by a lack of governance, poverty, and the aggressive overfishing by foreign vessels in Somali waters.
How Piracy Started: In the early 1990s, as Somali fishing communities saw their livelihoods wiped out by foreign trawlers, they took matters into their own hands. Many turned to piracy as a way of fighting back. Over time, piracy became more organized, with criminal networks rising up to support these ventures. Piracy was no longer just about taking revenge on foreign fishing vessels but became an entire business model, including ransoms, arms smuggling, and human trafficking.
As piracy grew, so did its sophistication, with pirates moving from small boats to commandeering larger vessels hundreds of miles offshore. The introduction of criminal entities with deeper pockets and political ties made the trade even more dangerous.
Inside the Mind of a Pirate: Why They Do It
Take the story of Md (Mohammed) Atik Ullah Khan, the chief officer of the Bangladesh-flagged vessel Abdullah. In March 2024, the ship was hijacked by Somali pirates while en route from Mozambique to the United Arab Emirates. Khan describes the terrifying experience: “I was running and running… trying to find a safe place, but I couldn’t.”
Khan and his crew were forced into captivity for 32 days. The pirates took control of their vessel, boarded it with automatic rifles, and held the crew hostage. Despite being in the midst of a busy shipping route, the Abdullah had no armed guards or physical barriers to protect against a hijacking.
The pirates, meanwhile, seemed comfortable in their new role. They controlled every area of the ship, monopolizing the bridge, where the crew was confined. Khan remembers how the pirates, who seemed to be aware of the media attention surrounding the hijacking, were well-prepared for the situation.
After a month in captivity, the Abdullah was released after pirates received a ransom. This event was a stark reminder of the persistent and evolving threat that Somali pirates pose to global commerce and seafarers’ safety.
Why Piracy Is Still on the Rise
The resurgence of piracy can be attributed to several key factors:
- The instability in the region: With Yemen embroiled in a civil war and the ongoing tensions in Gaza, the global community has been unable to focus on countering piracy in Somali waters.
- The removal of the “High Risk Area” (HRA): In January 2023, the International Maritime Bureau removed the designation of the Indian Ocean High Risk Area (HRA). This resulted in shipping companies becoming complacent, no longer using armed guards or following proper protective practices.
- The lack of government control: The Somali government’s inability to control its own territory leaves the pirates with minimal consequences. The criminal networks behind piracy are well-funded, and many pirates have political backing, making them harder to root out.
The Future of Somali Piracy
What happens next is unclear, but the situation has set off alarm bells in the global maritime community. Analysts suggest that the pirates are now working with larger networks, including Al-Shabaab and even the Houthi rebels. These alliances make Somali piracy more dangerous and lethal than before.
If the situation continues to evolve, maritime commerce will likely face increased risks and costs, with far-reaching consequences for global supply chains. While counter-piracy efforts have worked in the past, there’s a need for a broader, multi-faceted approach that goes beyond just military measures. Addressing the root causes of piracy—poverty, lack of opportunity, and political instability—is crucial if the piracy problem is to be permanently solved.
Relevant links for further reading:
- Houthi Attacks in the Red Sea
- Somali Pirates’ Growing Alliances
- The Impact of Piracy on Global Trade
Photo credit: CNN
