The ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine has created new opportunities for pirates by drawing naval attention away from their activities.
The return of piracy follows the rise of the Houthi movement in Yemen. The Iran-backed Islamist group has targeted shipping in the Red Sea in support of Hamas. This has drawn the attention of anti-piracy resources, allowing Somali pirates to stage a comeback, attacking merchant vessels in the western Indian Ocean.
Somali piracy peaked in 2011, with 237 reported incidents. That figure includes both attempted attacks and successful takeovers. One report estimated that piracy cost the global economy $7 billion that year alone.
New anti-piracy measures were introduced in 2012, which led to an almost immediate sharp decline. These included a greater international naval presence, new laws to prosecute suspected pirates, increased armed guards on ships, and more. Between 2015 and 2022, there were only 16 reported incidents.
SOMALIAN PIRATES INCREASE SHIPPING COSTS BY FORCING COMPANIES TO INCREASE SECURITY AND BURN MORE FUEL
However, the chaos in Gaza has created the ideal conditions for their return, and pirates are taking advantage of this. While the current threat is only described as “moderate,” a December 2024 report from the EU Naval Forces Maritime Security Center said pirate attacks are now considered a “realistic possibility.”
“We are potentially at a critical point where any further disruption would be very visible to consumers around the world. That is a significant concern,” Ian Ralby, a senior fellow at the US-based Center for Maritime Strategic Studies, told CNN.
Piracy activity causes increased shipping costs to maintain higher levels of security. Houthi attacks also force ships to sail around the Cape of Good Hope, causing a major increase in fuel costs. That price is then passed on to consumers in the form of increased imports.
Officials warn that, in addition to counter-piracy measures, the “onshore drivers” that fund criminal activity must also be addressed. During lulls in offshore activity, some pirates have turned their efforts to trafficking in drugs, weapons and even people. “The root causes of piracy have never been addressed,” said Raj Mohabeer, deputy director general of the Indian Ocean Commission. “And you know that piracy, the main driver of it is money.”
International complacency has also contributed to the resurgence. After piracy subsided, the High Risk Area (HRA) in the Indian Ocean for piracy was abolished in January 2023. This has led to relaxed security measures on commercial vessels and a reduced presence of armed guards.
SOMALIAN PIRATES ALLEGEDLY WORKING WITH YEMEN’S HOUTHI REBEL AND AL-QAEDA BRANCHES
A year ago, the UN Security Council failed to renew a resolution authorizing international naval forces to neutralize piracy threats in Somali waters. The concern was that an international presence would cause more instability in the region. However, it is now a potential vulnerability as pirates return.
The pirate presence itself may be stronger and better funded than ever. Experts say their relationship with the Houthi rebels is a “strategic alliance” for both sides. They are also rumored to be allied with the Al Qaeda-linked militant group al-Shabaab.
The Houthis have said their Red Sea attacks are contingent on a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. But Somali pirates have no such allegiance. This conflict could only serve to usher in a new era of maritime crime.
