Are Somali pirates still active in 2020?

Are Somali pirates still active in 2020?

After years of focus on the Gulf of Aden near Somalia, piracy’s new hotspot has switched to the Gulf of Guinea on Africa’s west coast. In 2020, the area saw the highest-ever number of kidnapped crew, with 130 taken in 22 separate incidents. Overall, 2020 saw 195 recorded piracy attacks, up from 162 the previous year.

How bad is piracy in Somalia?

Somali pirates have attacked hundreds of vessels in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean region, though most attacks do not result in a successful hijacking. In 2008, there were 111 attacks which included 42 successful hijackings. (There has been a general and complete arms embargo against Somalia since 1992.)

Has Piracy in Somalia stopped?

Somalia reported zero piracy incidents in 2019, a trend that continued through the beginning of 2020. However, Somali pirates continue to possess the capacity to carry out attacks in the Somali basin and wider Indian Ocean. Following an active 2019, there has been no let-up in piracy in 2020.

Why did piracy in Somalia start?

Adversity prompted the Somalis to test new ways of making money and former fishermen joined hands with the militia and unemployed youth to hijack vessels and demand ransom. This was the start of piracy in Somalia.

Is Pirates of Somalia a true story?

Bahadur returned from his first trip in March 2009, just before the Maersk Alabama hijacking in April. On August 9, 2011, Bahadur appeared as a guest on The Daily Show. A film based on his story, The Pirates of Somalia, directed by Bryan Buckley, was released in 2017. Bahadur was portrayed by Evan Peters.

How did Somali piracy start?

Piracy in Somalia began because traditional coastal fishing became difficult after foreign fishing trawlers depleted local fish stocks. Desperate fishermen started attacking trawlers until the trawler crews fought back with heavy weapons, leading the local fishermen to turn to other types of commercial vessels.

Who are the Somali pirates?

Because there is no single terrorist group in Somalia, the term ‘Somali Pirate’ can refer to any of the terrorist and rebel armies, although the most powerful is believed to be Al-Shabaab with an army size of about 15,000 men and have taken over the southern half of Somalia in 2011.

Where do Somali pirates operate?

Somali pirates operate well out into the Indian Ocean, extending from the Bab El Mandab Strait to the Maldives . In at least one case, Somali pirates were encountered off the south Indian coast.