How has piracy affected Somalia?

Somali piracy has had unintended positive consequences—from the economy to international cooperation. In 2009, piracy off the coast of Somalia splashed onto the global stage at near epidemic levels. The impact of Somali piracy affected the entire international community as shipping expenses soared.

Why does piracy occur in Somalia?

There has always been a correlation between poverty, the vicious cycle of violence and anarchy, and the same reasons make Somalia water as one of the most badly affected maritime piracy areas. Finding the Root Cause. The inhabitants of Somalia are mostly Sunni Muslims.

Does Somalia have piracy?

Piracy off the coast of Somalia occurs in the Gulf of Aden, Guardafui Channel and Somali Sea, in Somali territorial waters and other surrounding areas. The pirates then began hijacking commercial vessels.

What is maritime piracy?

What is piracy? According to the Geneva Convention, piracy is an “illegal act of violence, detention or depreciation through the use of a ship”. An act of piracy requires 4 conditions: To be committed on the high seas. To involve violence.

What causes maritime piracy?

When Economic Prospects are Grim, Piracy Thrives Prins listed some other factors that contribute to maritime piracy including economic weakness, poverty, joblessness, political violence, large populations, and proximity to major trade lanes which creates the opportunity for piracy.

Where is maritime piracy committed?

Somalia is not the only area of the world affected by maritime piracy, however. The Gulf of Guinea in West Africa has long been a high risk area, as are the waters along Bangladesh and the South China Sea.

Is maritime piracy a crime?

Piracy in Maritime Law Essentially piracy is any illegal act, broadly defined as robbery on the high seas (i.e. outside of the 12nm limit of Territorial Waters), whereas robbery occurring within the 12nm limit is treated as a crime of robbery under the laws of the coastal state.

Why is piracy a problem off the coast of Somalia?

In “Securitizing piracy off the coast of Somalia,” author Bilyana Tsvetkova argues that Somali piracy has become a regional and security issue due to its impact on international trade and human security. For this reason, the international community was enticed to

Why is piracy a problem in the Gulf of Aden?

Maritime piracy has become a worrying issue, particularly in the pirate-infested region of the Gulf of Aden and the coast of Somalia, which poses great security threats to the thousands of ships sailing this route every day. The region holds strategic and economic importance due to the high maritime traffic.

How does the international community deal with piracy?

Effectively formulating a plan of action against piracy requires the willingness of the international community to work together by implementing strong multilateral operations between countries and understanding the social and economic difficulties faced by Somalia, which has given rise to the endemic and its expansion throughout the region.

Why did people start hijacking ships in Somalia?

Adversity prompted the Somalis to test new ways of making money and former fishermen joined hands with the militia and unemployed youth to hijack vessels and demand ransom. This was the start of piracy in Somalia.