Are Somali Pirates Still Relevant

Somali Pirates are known for their raiding of ships off the coasts of East Africa. The Somali Pirates initially had good intentions. They consisted of the Somali fishing communities protecting their coastal fish from international fishing ships that illegally went onto Somali waters. They held crews for ransoms to deter further illegal fishing. As time passed Somalians figured out that this venture was more profitable then they originally realized and it became a way of making money rather than kicking out the fishers. So the Somali Pirates were created. Due to them losing a good cause the Somali Pirates have brought dishonor to their previously good name. But are they still a big issue? In 2013, there were only nine recorded attacks by Somali Pirates and none were successful. Since 2012, piracy off the Somali coast has decreased by 90% and the only successful hijacking of a proper ship since then was in 2017 when pirates hijacked an oil tanker. This hijacking wasn’t even really successful as the pirates who may have some good left in them decided to release the crew and ship with no ransom because they were hired by Somalis instead of illegal foreign ships. So it appears although Somali Pirates possibly remain a threat they no longer pose as much of a threat as they did pre-2012.