Rooting Out Somali Piracy Starts On-Shore

The briefing examines the link between Somalia's internal instability and maritime piracy, asserting that while naval security is necessary, long-term success depends on creating viable economic livelihoods on land. It highlights the role of existing informal business networks and the need for infrastructure development in southern ports like Mogadishu and Kismayo to facilitate trade and aid. The text also identifies gaps in the international legal system and recommends strengthening the Somalia National Coast Guard and the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia to secure regional trade.

• Solving piracy in Somalia requires a dual approach addressing both land and sea, as the high financial yields of piracy make alternative livelihoods difficult to establish without significant economic rehabilitation, particularly in coastal fisheries.
• Somalia's economy relies heavily on informal business networks and specific exports including livestock, coal, and khat. Successful homegrown enterprises, such as the telecommunications industry and the money transfer company Dahabshiil—which moves between $750 million and $1 billion annually across 44 countries—provide models for future development.
• Maritime trade potential is hindered by a lack of land-based infrastructure and security, particularly in the southern half of the country. While the ports of Berbera and Bosasso are functional, the ports of Mogadishu and Kismayo are viewed as having potential global significance if sovereignty and security are established.
• Piracy off the coast of Somalia had a massive economic impact, costing between US$ 6.6 and US$ 6.9 billion in 2011, which exceeded the country's annual GDP by more than 110%. In 2011, 275 out of 439 total piracy attacks occurred off the Somali coast.
• To improve regional maritime security, the document recommends establishing a 3,000-strong professional Somalia National Coast Guard, utilizing the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) as a funding focal point, and implementing the Djibouti Code.

APA

Leijenaar, A., & Walker, T. (n.d.). Rooting Out Somali Piracy Starts On-Shore. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/rooting-out-somali-piracy-starts-on-shore

Chicago

Leijenaar, Annette, and Timothy Walker. Rooting Out Somali Piracy Starts On-Shore. Institute for Security Studies, n.d. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/rooting-out-somali-piracy-starts-on-shore.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Leijenaar |first1=Annette |last2=Walker |first2=Timothy |title=Rooting Out Somali Piracy Starts On-Shore |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |url=https://issafrica.org/iss-today/rooting-out-somali-piracy-starts-on-shore |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{leijenaarndrooting, author = {Leijenaar, Annette and Walker, Timothy}, title = {{Rooting Out Somali Piracy Starts On-Shore}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.org/iss-today/rooting-out-somali-piracy-starts-on-shore}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }