Involvement of International Community in Addressing the Piracy of Somalia

Piracy is both an offence and a threat to nations and their citizens. One of the real threats posed by sea piracy to international community has been demonstrated in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean off the Coast of Somalia. In the years following the collapse of government in Somalia during the late 1980s and early 1990s, Somalia has deteriorated in to a failed state causing a serious international concern and a regional crisis. The absence of central government and high unemployment has resulted in terrible consequences. One of the severe consequences of the fall of central authority of Somalia was the rise of lawlessness and the rise of piracy mainly in the Indian Ocean. This study examines the root causes, make-up, motivations, and structure of Somali pirate networks to understand how they organize and operate, and how the organizations might be disrupted. Due consideration is also given to current anti-piracy efforts and the reasons how they counter, prevent and deter the piracy in Somali waters and the Indian Ocean. This study attempts to describe the challenges and efforts of the international community in countering piracy and discusses how the international community combats piracy in Somalia from a maritime perspective.