Why did the Somali pirates stop?

Dangerous sea passage The possibility of huge riches seemed to have been the main driver of piracy off the Somali coast. But it was the lack of an effective central government since the collapse of the Siad Barre regime in 1991, and the subsequent disbandment of the Somali navy, that enabled it to happen.

Are there still Somali pirates 2020?

After years of focus on the Gulf of Aden near Somalia, piracy’s new hotspot has switched to the Gulf of Guinea on Africa’s west coast. In 2020, the area saw the highest-ever number of kidnapped crew, with 130 taken in 22 separate incidents. Overall, 2020 saw 195 recorded piracy attacks, up from 162 the previous year.

What is happening to Africa’s pirates?

Pirate attacks along the Horn of Africa have decreased since the international naval presence there was bolstered. In 2012, 35 ships were attacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia, compared with 163 in 2009. In former piracy hotspots, locals are more concerned about fishing than capturing cargo ships.

What happened to piracy in the Gulf of Aden?

The noteworthy efforts of the European Union’s Operation Atalanta, NATO’s Operation Ocean Shield, and Combined Task Force 151 were a major reason why piracy in the Gulf of Aden nearly disappeared over the past five years. However, with no successful piracy attacks since 2012, NATO terminated Ocean Shield in December 2016.

How many ships pass through the Gulf of Aden each year?

Over 20,000 merchant ships, including ten percent of global oil trade, transit the Gulf of Aden annually. As a maritime nation, the United States relies on the free flow of commerce across the high seas, and protecting those flows always will be strategic mission for our naval forces.

How can we solve the problem of piracy in the Gulf?

As long as ships go to sea there will be piracy. The Gulf of Aden is three times the size of the Gulf of Mexico and requires enormous resources to patrol. To manage the problem, nations must work together to develop the right strategy and provide the resources to confront pirates directly as well as confront the sources of piracy in Somalia.

What happened to ‘Pirate Alley?

If you recall, you may have heard that initial attacks were being launched on merchant ships trading through the Gulf of Aden, also named ‘Pirate Alley.’ The ships, along with the crew, were being taken hostage for ransom to the pirate-infested shores of the Horn of Africa.