SOMALI PIRATES TAKE TO THE HIGH SEAS: EXPEDIENCY OR LONG-TERM PIRATE STRATEGY?

In 2008 the highest number of attacks recorded against ships in the world was<br />reported to have taken place off the coast of Africa. These attacks were carried out at<br />greater distances from land, along the east coast of Africa, than ever before. In this<br />article the ex...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Henri Fouche
Format: Article
Language:Afrikaans
Published: Stellenbosch University 2011-08-01
Series:Scientia Militaria
Online Access:http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/69
Description
Summary:In 2008 the highest number of attacks recorded against ships in the world was<br />reported to have taken place off the coast of Africa. These attacks were carried out at<br />greater distances from land, along the east coast of Africa, than ever before. In this<br />article the extent of piracy and armed robbery against ships in the African context<br />and underlying causes of piracy and armed robbery against ships off the coast of<br />East Africa will be presented. The objective is to analyse incidents and the land and<br />sea based causes in East Africa to account for the shift in strategy from attacking<br />ships in territorial waters to attacking ships on the high seas. A secondary aim is to<br />determine, in view of the shifting background to the attacks, the responsibilities of<br />navies and other role players in the process of countering such attacks. The article<br />suggests that states need to review national legislation related to maritime security<br />and that all state role players in the maritime domain need to cooperate more<br />efficiently.
ISSN:2224-0020