Piracy has returned to the forefront of regional threats after more than a decade of remission. Since the Iran war started in February, Somali pirates have resumed their activities, thanks in part to the assistance they are getting from the Houthis, directly or through the terrorist group Al-Shabab.
There is an urgent need to combat this emerging threat through concerted diplomatic, political, military and economic efforts. Piracy was defeated once before and it could be suppressed again.
Between January and May this year, about 20 cases of piracy have been observed, including at least three involving ships that were attacked and continue to be detained. On July 17, pirates hijacked the tanker MT Asana about 50 kilometers off the coast of Hadhramawt in southeastern Yemen. On May 2, the MT Eureka was taken to the Somali coast. And on April 22, the Honor 25 was also taken to Somalia.
Recent incidents differ from previous experiences with Somali pirates in that they are no longer restricted to the Somali coast; they now threaten ships hundreds of miles away, in locations including in the Indian Ocean.
Much like many other organized criminal activities, piracy in Somalia started with good intentions. As the Somali government collapsed in the early 1990s, fishermen solicited the help of armed groups to protect fisheries from predatory foreign fishing companies. With the passage of time, these groups turned to piracy.
Between 2005 and 2012, they attacked more than 1,000 foreign ships, peaking in 2011 when almost 240 were targeted in a single year. At the time, the total cost to the global economy was estimated at $18 billion, due to the detention and plundering of ships, ransom payments for the release of sailors or cargo, and the diversion of shipping routes around southern Africa, which increased travel time, insurance prices and freight costs.
Only through coordinated regional and international cooperation was the piracy suppressed. One of the best examples of this cooperation was the establishment of the Combined Maritime Forces in 2001. Its membership now spans 47 countries, including Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states.
One of the main goals of this naval partnership was to suppress piracy. In December 2008, the EU launched Operation Atalanta to augment the efforts undertaken by some of its member states to fight piracy. China, Russia, Japan and others also contributed to these military efforts.
There has been an alarming resurgence in 2026 since the start of the war between the US and Iran, with at least 17 incidents (of piracy) recorded so far this year.
Dr. Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg
On land, there were concerted security, economic and political efforts to strengthen the Somali government and security forces and their efforts to enforce the rule of law, and upgrade their capacity to fight crime. There were also successful apprehensions and prosecutions of some of the pirates.
The combination of international military and legal action against the pirates, and security and economic support for Mogadishu, helped to virtually eradicate Somali piracy. From a peak of 239 incidents in 2011, there were only 10 successful incidents in 2012 and zero by the end of 2013. There was only one successful hijacking during 2014-2015, and none in the seven years that followed.
In 2023, as the Houthis started to attack ships in the Red Sea, there was at least one successful piracy incident, and the same in 2024 and 2025.
However, there has been an alarming resurgence in 2026 since the start of the war between the US and Iran, with at least 17 incidents recorded so far this year. While the Houthis have distanced themselves from these activities, there is ample evidence to suggest otherwise.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz since Feb. 28 and Houthi attacks have created the right conditions for a resurgence of piracy for several reasons. Firstly, there is effectively a triangular relationship between the Houthis, Al-Shabab and the pirates. The Houthis provide weapons, communications equipment and training to Al-Shabab, who in turn help the pirates in exchange for a share of the spoils.
Al-Shabab have effective control of parts of southern Somalia, which enables them to provide the needed logistical support to the pirates. Lately, reports have emerged of direct links between the pirates and the Houthis, such that the pirates work as proxies to obstruct international navigation without the Houthis being directly involved in the act of piracy itself.
Secondly, as a result of this support the pirates have received from Al-Shabab and the Houthis (which also means links to Iran in the background), the modus operandi of Somali pirates has evolved. They now employ modern satellite-communication equipment to track ships in the middle of the ocean. They are also using more modern and heavier weapons than before.
Thirdly, Houthi attacks on vessels in the Red Sea since 2023 have led to a 70 percent decrease in ship traffic through the Bab Al-Mandab strait, with most of the diverted traffic traveling around the Cape of Good Hope instead. The added distance this involves, about 3,000 nautical miles, means an increase in travel time of between 10 and 14 days, which gives the pirates ample opportunity to target ships.
Fourthly, Somalia’s federal government is limited in its ability to deal with the resurgence in piracy because of the serious security, political and economic challenges it faces. It has to deal with terrorist threats from Al-Shabab and Daesh. Its runaway province, Somaliland, has unilaterally declared independence and now gets support from Israel and others. The economic pressures are immense.
Fifthly, energy shortages and rising oil prices as a result of the Iran war have made fuel ships a more attractive target for pirates. There is a ready market for stolen vessels and higher rewards.
While the number of piracy incidents is still significantly lower than the highs between 2005 and 2011, it is alarming nonetheless. If the pirates responsible for recent incidents are not dealt with decisively, the situation could spiral out of control.
To prevent a full resurgence of piracy in the region, three things are required. Firstly, there needs to be more coordinated international counterpiracy efforts, mainly through the Combined Maritime Forces but also individual or regional efforts. The CMF task force in the Red Sea, which was launched in quieter times, needs to be augmented to deal with this emerging threat.
Secondly, more support must be given to the Somali government to help it deal with the challenges it faces, so it is better able to contribute effectively to fighting piracy. Let us remember that Mogadishu’s increased capacity and the relative stability Somalia experienced in 2012 were key to the efforts to combat piracy at the time.
Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly right now, there is the need to dry up the sources of support the pirates receive from the Houthis, directly and through Al-Shabab. This requires the tightening of the arms embargo imposed on the Houthis since 2015 under UN Security Council Resolution 2216.
BY: Dr. Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg is the GCC assistant secretary-general for political affairs and negotiation. The views expressed here are personal and do not necessarily represent those of the GCC.
Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect The Times Union‘ point of view
