Piracy off the coast of Somalia is back, underlined by the dramatic rescue [6] of a hijacked Iranian fishing vessel and its crew this week by Indian naval forces. There have been at least 15 pirate attacks [7] since the start of the year, compared to five last year and the handful recorded annually since 2013. Piracy was kept in check for over a decade [8] by a combination of private security forces, naval patrols, and land-based development initiatives. But it has historically thrived during periods of domestic political instability [9]—and Somalia is in deep crisis [10]. The conflict between the United States and Iran has added a powerful regional dimension [15]. International naval attention is now on the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, while the insecurity has re-routed [11] maritime traffic closer to Somalia's coastline, creating more opportunities for the hijack-for-ransom business model [12]. Meanwhile, sharply rising inflation and cuts to aid have left many Somalis looking for new incomes, and pirate groups are known to be generous employers [13].
From The New Humanitarian [16], Nov. 6
