Illegal fishing and political instability fuel piracy risks in Somalia

 Key Points

• The increase in illegal fishing in Somali waters is denying Somalia’s state governments a legitimate source of revenue and depriving Somali fishermen of their livelihood.
• Political instability in Galmudug and northeast Puntland is recreating conditions that previously led local leaders to support piracy, facilitating the establishment of secure pirate bases.
• A combination of factors mean that neither Somali federal security forces nor state forces would be likely to respond effectively to a resurgence of piracy, leaving any risk mitigation action to international maritime forces deployed in the region.
• Force levels of international maritime security operations are likely to be reduced and their effectiveness constrained by political reluctance to engage pirates on land.