Why are Somali pirate attacks on the rise after Israel-Palestine war?

The global incidence of pirate attacks on ships has increased by 20 percent in 2020, with record numbers of incidents occurring in West Africa. Recently, a maritime watchdog organization depicted this trend. They have also urged for increased patrols at sea during this time. According to the annual report by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), there were 195 incidents of pirate attacks and armed robbery last year, compared to 162 in 2019. Additionally, 135 sailors were kidnapped worldwide last year, with 130 of them being abducted in the waters off the coast of West Africa. Somalia, is a nation bordered by the waters of the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea.

Upon hearing the name Somalia, images of starving people used to dominate the media at one time. However, now the mere mention of the country in the Horn of Africa brings to mind a terrifying scenario of piracy, hijackings of cargo ships, abduction of sailors, ransom payments, or brazen attacks involving gunfire. The latest incident involving the MV Abdullah, a Bangladeshi vessel, being hijacked in the Indian Ocean has once again sparked discussions about these pirates. There is no end to people's interest in how pirates hijack ships in the sea, where they take the ship after the hijacking, how they collect the ransom money and who is behind all this. Recently, the fate of 23 Bangladeshi sailors and their families has been intertwined with the misfortune of Somalia. The Bangladeshi merchant ship MV Abdullah was captured by Somali pirates while passing by Somalia in the Indian Ocean. Piracy is certainly a despicable act. And when Bangladeshi sailors fall into their hands, it becomes even more detestable.

But why have Somalis become pirates? And why do these pirates enjoy immense popularity in Somalia? Why are they called the guardians of Somalia? The waters off the coast of Somalia were the most valuable in Africa. This water was home to tuna, dolphins, and expensive fish like marlin. This wealth became Somalia's curse. Foreign fishermen turned their attention there. They used modern trawlers and deep-sea nets to steal Somalia's maritime wealth. Somali fishermen were left unemployed. This led to the emergence of Somali pirates. The second crisis is even more alarming. After the collapse of the military regime in 1991, civil war breaks out in Somalia. The nation falls into prolonged anarchy. Western powers intervene through the United Nations. Additionally, the United States, Britain, Italy, and France seek control over Somalia's rich mineral resources.

Since the 1990s, Somalia has faced one American invasion after another, clandestine CIA operations, and destabilization through American-backed Ethiopian aggression, leaving the country devastated and its millions of inhabitants facing the gates of hell. Yet, like every nation, Somalis too have a different story to tell. And like all nations, Somalis have a history, a dramatic rise and fall. They had a portion under Italian rule and another under British rule. They were a fiercely independent nation. In the 1920s, the British killed three percent of their population. Italy's fascist ruler Mussolini also carried out massacres there. Somali pirates have much in common with medieval European pirates in many places. The term "pirate" has been associated with devilish characters with parrots on their shoulders in Hollywood movies. We tend to think pirates were never like that.

The golden age of piracy was from 1650 to 1730. During that time, the protagonists of the British Empire portrayed pirates as inhuman, barbaric outlaws. Many still believe this notion today. However, time and again, society has rescued them from the gallows. Why? Historian and author of "Villains of All Nations," Marcus Rediker, can shed some light on this matter. Suppose you, at that time, a sailor or a seafarer, were picked up from the bustling East End docks of London, hungry and youthful, to be taken aboard a ship. As the journey begins, you find yourself submerged in a living hell made of wood. Your muscles ache from endless labor, your stomach grumbles, and moments of melancholy engulf you. The all-powerful captain will lash you with the cat-o'-nine-tails. If your performance falters repeatedly, you'll be thrown overboard into the sea. Alternatively, at the end of the month, you might find your wages withheld.

These were the first rebels against the brutality of this barbaric world, those pirates. They revolted against their barbaric captains and established new rules for maritime affairs. Once a ship was captured, they would elect their captain and all decisions were made democratically. They divided the loot in such a way that, as Rediker puts it, "it was the most egalitarian division of plunder in the seventeenth century." For this reason, despite being pirates, they were still popular, just like Somali pirates are popular among Somalis. Western powers understood the weakness of Somalia and began to exploit its food supply, dumping toxic waste in its waters. Since the government had collapsed, European ships started to clandestinely dump huge barrels there. Indigenous coastal communities began to fall ill.

At first, they noticed strange marks on their bodies, followed by vomiting and deformed births. After the 2005 tsunami, their coastline was filled with thousands of abandoned and leaking barrels. People suffered from rapid illnesses. Over 300 people died. At that time, UN representative Ahmedou Abdallah stated, "Someone is dumping nuclear material here. Others are dumping waste, lead, and heavy metals." Most of these are traced back to European hospitals and factories. Through Italian mafias, they dispose of these in Somali waters at low costs. Are European governments doing anything about this? No, they are not cleaning it up, compensating for damages, or stopping the dumping.

At the same time, other European ships have been plundering Somalia's seas. The main asset of Somalia is its rich reserves of marine fish. Europe has depleted its own fish stocks through overfishing and is now encroaching on others' waters. They extract tuna, shrimp, lobster, and other fish worth $300 million annually from Somalia's protected waters. Local fishermen suddenly find their livelihoods gone, and they had lost everything.
Mohammad Hossain, a young man, tells Reuters, "If nothing is done, our seas will be fishless within a short time." It is in this context that the emergence of those people we call "pirates" occurs. Everyone agrees that they are actually simple fisherman and victims of circumstances. Initially, they tried to deter speedboats and trawlers throwing waste and fishing vessels from entering their waters.

At one point, there were also attempts to impose taxes on them. In a telephone conversation, a leader of the pirates, Sugule Ali, said their purpose was to stop illegal fishing and pollution in their waters. He said, "We are not Pirates. We are defenders. The real pirates are those who steal our fish, poison our waters, and carry weapons in our seas." Among Somali pirates, there are also some bad actors. They loot the UN's food aid and it's also true that these pirates are quite popular among locals. An independent Somali media outlet conducted a very good survey on this matter, revealing that 70 percent of Somalis consider piracy as their national defense strategy for the seas.

During America's War of Independence, founding fathers like George Washington used pirates to defend American coastal waters because the United States didn't have a navy at that time. They would pay them for their services, as many Americans also saw this as a necessity. Are Somalis really so different from them? If piracy is indeed to be stopped, then attention must be paid to the crimes committed by the Western powers. Several years ago, it was reported through an interview with a Western media outlet that nearly 30 incidents involving the release of sailors from the hands of Somali pirates had occurred. Additionally, hijacked ships were returned to their owners.
The method of ransom payment was quite innovative. In a particular arrangement, the ransom money would be dropped into the water from an aircraft using parachutes. After ensuring that the money had been collected from the water and counted on the ship, the pirates would then release the hijacked vessel.

At the same time, the authorities of the hijacked ship would board the ship, take possession of its crew and cargo, and proceed to the nearest safe port. The entire process was quite risky because even if the ransom was paid, if the pirates did not release the ship and its crew, it could lead to significant trouble. However, such problems did not arise in this case. The pirates accepted the payment and kept their word. In 2009, the world's major governments collectively declared war against Somali pirates. At that time, more than two dozen warships from countries including the British Royal Navy, the United States, and China, entered Somali waters. International patrols were conducted in the region from that time onwards. However, the problem escalated after the start of the Israel-Palestine conflict. In response to Israeli atrocities, Yemeni Iranian-backed militias, the Houthis, obstruct maritime traffic in the Red Sea. To counter them, international naval forces stationed near Somali waters are deployed in the Red Sea. Somali pirates seize this opportunity. Consequently, a Bangladeshi vessel and its 23 crew members fall victim to misfortune. The Bangladeshi government is expected to take appropriate action in this regard - that's the hope of the families and relatives.

Author: Researcher and columnist.