Maritime piracy and security: the motivations of Somali pirates and the efficacy of international prevention strategies
This research adds an international dimension to the Law and Justice research agenda of the Sellenger Centre and is being planned in collaboration with the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC). It responds to a proliferation of Somali piracy over the last few years.
Governments worldwide have contributed coalitions of warships to patrol Somali waters in a united effort to curb pirate activity. While this escalation in pirate activities and its global responses have been the topic of growing media speculation, current research has failed to examine these rapid developments and their security implications.
This research sheds light on the forces propelling piracy in Somalia by identifying the motivations of Somali pirates (terrorist, financial or a combination of the two) and the impact of warship patrol and imprisonment strategies. The project plans to interview 110 imprisoned pirates currently detained in Kenya.