Piracy Surge off Somalia: Causes and Developments
Shola Lawal
At least four vessels have been seized by pirates off the coast of Somalia in the past week, raising fears of a resurgence of the piracy that once plagued the Horn of Africa region. The UK Maritime Trade Operations has raised the threat level to "significant." Analysts attribute the uptick to the diversion of naval patrols to the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, as well as rising oil prices.
At least three ship hijackings occurred in the past week off the coast of Somalia, sparking fears of a resurgence of the piracy that once plagued the Horn of Africa region. The area was notorious as the world's worst piracy hotspot in the early 2000s, until an international naval coalition curbed the threat to global shipping. According to the World Bank, the annual global economic impact of Somali piracy peaked at $18 billion.
Isolated attacks have continued since then, with several incidents reported this year. However, the recent spate of hijackings of tankers has intensified concern. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has raised the threat level along the Somali coast to "significant" this week, warning vessels to "maintain vigilance while transiting."
Timeline of Hijackings
Approximately three to four merchant vessels are believed to have been seized off the Somali coast since April 20.
The European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) said it was alerted by the Puntland Maritime Police Force to the hijacking of the fishing vessel Alkhary 2 on April 20. Media reports noted a Somali-flagged fishing boat was seized in northern Somali waters and later released.
The following day, EUNAVFOR announced another vessel, Honour 25, had been taken in the same area. Reports indicate six pirates targeted this tanker, carrying about 18,000 barrels of oil, off the semi-autonomous Puntland region. The ship is believed to be anchored between the fishing villages of Xaafuun and Bandarbeyla, with an additional five pirates on board since the hijacking. The vessel has a crew of 17, including nationals from Pakistan, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar. EUNAVFOR said patrol vessels have surrounded the ship.
On April 22, the Puntland Maritime Police Force reported that Alkhary 2 had been released and all crew were safe, but the "Piracy Action Group" remained on the Honour 25.
By April 26, EUNAVFOR announced it was monitoring the hijacking of another merchant vessel, the Sward. UKMTO said the Sward was hijacked 6 nautical miles (11 km) northeast of the Somali coastal town of Garacad. Maritime security group Vanguard said the ship's crew of 15 included two Indians and 13 Syrians.
The next day, Puntland officials disclosed a cement carrier flagged to St. Kitts and Nevis had been hijacked off Garacad. That vessel is believed to be the same ship, the Sward. Authorities said the vessel had left Egypt for Mombasa, Kenya, and had nine armed pirates on board.
Perpetrators and Motives
It remains unclear which group is behind the attacks. In the past, local fishermen and various armed groups, including those affiliated with ISIL (ISIS) and al-Qaeda, have been involved in piracy.
Analysts speculate that the diversion of anti-piracy patrols from 2023 to the Red Sea to respond to Houthi attacks in Yemen at the Bab al-Mandeb strait has created an opportunity. More recently, naval patrols by major powers, which previously helped suppress the piracy threat, have been scattered or redirected to escort vessels attempting to access the Strait of Hormuz, where both Iran and the US have imposed blockades.
Experts suggest that surging gasoline and oil prices amid the US-Israel conflict with Iran may make tankers like the Honour 25 more valuable to pirates. Brent crude, the global benchmark, has risen over 50% since the war began, to over $110 a barrel.
History of Piracy in Somalia
Piracy has long plagued the waters off Somalia, the Gulf of Aden, and farther into the Indian Ocean. In the early 2000s, hijackings escalated as the Somali government collapsed during the 2006-2009 Somalia-Ethiopia War. Thousands of sailors were kidnapped or shot, and pirates demanded ransoms of millions of dollars. The World Bank estimates that total ransoms between 2005 and 2012 amounted to $339-413 million. In 2011 alone, some 212 attacks were recorded, one of the highest annual figures.
An international coalition including NATO's Operation Ocean Shield, EUNAVFOR's Operation Atalanta, the Combined Maritime Forces, and the Somali government began patrolling the region. These patrols and a 47-nation naval partnership helped significantly reduce attacks. EUNAVFOR, along with the Somali government, continues to monitor anti-piracy operations in the region.
