Benefits of buccaneering The political economy of maritime piracy in Somalia and Kenya

The modern-day face of what is one of the world's oldest crimes - maritime piracy - is quite different to that of two centuries ago. Over the last decade the hub of global pirate activities has shifted from the East to Africa, with the growing scourge of Somali pirates - armed with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades - having arisen as a global concern as a result of the consequences piracy holds for a litany of security, strategic and economic imperatives. The evolution of Somali piracy off the east coast of Africa has increasingly hinted toward the phenomenon constituting a lucrative industry in the region. Indeed, it is evident that there is a political economy attached to maritime piracy in Somalia and Kenya in particular, which elucidates that piracy is a crime that is based not only at sea, but also on land. By considering the financial system related to piracy, as well as the costs and impacts it holds for locals, there are a number of lessons for counter-piracy efforts, specifically those focusing on Somali piracy. Piracy can, nonetheless, be expected to continue to plague the continent's shores so long as pirates can act with impunity and operate in an environment where the risk is low and the reward high. Until sufficient political will is garnered for the constructive involvement of all stakeholders - the shipping industry included - in a holistic approach to the problem, both on land and at sea, the effects of counter-piracy efforts will be limited.