Piracy: A Symptom of Somalia's Political Breakdown

Breaking the vicious cycle between anarchy and poverty

This paper was written by Cooper Carragher-Haim: a high school student from Nyack, New York

Is the world returning to an age where pirates rule the sea? There is only one area in the world where this would be true. The days of treasure ships and swashbuckling captains may be closer than you might think. After the collapse of their government in 1991, Somalia, a small country on the east coast of Africa with the largest shoreline of the continent, became the birthplace of a new age of piracy. Since then, we have seen a massive increase in piracy off the coast of Somalia due to the political instability, poverty, unemployment, and lack of public healthcare in this deteriorating country. This massive increase in piracy has brought substantial damage resulting in global involvement. Although we already know a great deal about this issue, there are many questions still being asked. For instance: What is the current state of the war against piracy in Somalia, and what has been the global response? What are the key causes that started piracy in Somalia? What is the impact of piracy on the people of Somalia? The collapse in the Somali government has created countless problems that have destroyed the hopeless country to an irreversible degree. 

The Somali Civil War is an ongoing conflict that began in 1991, following the overthrow of the Somali dictator, Siad Barre. This Civil War was the beginning of the collapse of the federal government. Somalia was designated as a failed state, with violence and corruption throughout the country. Conflict became the norm in Somalia. Over the past 30 years, the Somali people have gone through some of the most demanding conditions imaginable, as they have been confronted with anarchy and disasters. The Somali Civil War left Somalia in a vulnerable state, paving the way for pirates to take control. About a decade after the first phase of the Somali Civil War, the first incident of piracy off the coast of Somalia began. Ever since, pirates have been the main protector of the Somali fishing ground and the rest of the country.  Most of the Somali pirates are Somali or citizens of other west African countries, but many come from diverse backgrounds.

Piracy is an erratic industry, only suitable for those who are willing to take the risk. Pirates are commonly ordinary people who have been forced into criminal activity one way or another.  They are often devious and violent people who would do anything for money. Yassin is a former pirate, who says that piracy is a very dangerous field. Yassin says “my life has been endangered, and some of my colleagues have died, some at sea when their boats capsized.” Piracy demands a lot of non-stop hijacking, kidnapping, and all sorts of criminal actions, which has ended up killing many. But becoming a pirate is a risk that most people in Somalia were willing to take. Although for many, including Yassin, piracy has positively contributed to his life in a way that he could never have imagined. Yassin claims that his “life has changed dramatically because I’ve received more money than I ever thought I would see. In one incident, I got $250,000, so my life has changed completely.”  The amount of money pirates make from ransom makes it easier to understand why piracy has become such a popular career for many. Successful pirates live better lives than the majority of people in Somalia. Many pirates even get to retire early, and spend the rest of their lives relaxing. 

Piracy has greatly influenced the Somali lifestyle. Somalia has the largest coast in Africa, so the ocean is vital to their economy. The majority of Somali people make their money from fishing. Their entire life is based on the success of the ocean and trusting that it will provide for them. Since it’s impossible to fish with pirates surrounding the coast, most fishermen have had their lives ruined, or were forced to become a pirate. Yassin, as mentioned above, explains that “no one was monitoring the sea, and we couldn’t fish properly, because the ships which trawl the Somali coasts illegally would destroy our small boats and equipment. That is what forced us to become pirates.'' The root of Somalia’s problems always come down to their lack of a government. If Somalia had a functioning government, pirates would have never been able to control Somalia. 

Finding a way to combat piracy is the only way for Somalia to prevent the employment situation for Somalia’s youth from continuing to get worse. The unemployed youth have become a key contributor to the recent success of piracy, as they are taking a more permanent role in this rising industry. Somali piracy has ruined the lives of the youth of Somalia. Since pirates have invaded the coasts of Somalia, the youth have been forced to join piracy if they want to have any way to provide for their family. Pirates have found youth to be easily recruitable, because they are fearless, cheap, easy to manipulate. But most of all, there are a lot of them. The exclusion of young people from economic growth is rapidly becoming a global problem. The youth of Somalia are hungry for any job opportunity they can get, therefore becoming a pirate is the best possible opportunity for them. 

While progress has been made, Somalia remains fragile. The decrease in piracy incidents and economic improvements are positive signs, but the country continues to grapple with famine, political instability, and persistent challenges. The global community must remain vigilant and committed to supporting Somalia in its recovery.

Ultimately, piracy may not have a definitive solution. Viewing it as a perpetual challenge rather than a mere nuisance is crucial for developing sustainable strategies. Somalia, by adapting to coexist with piracy, has the potential to break the cycle of violence and anarchy. Embracing a new approach to conflict resolution could redefine Somalia's legacy, offering a glimmer of hope for a country burdened by a tumultuous past.