Somalia is stepping up efforts to combat piracy and maritime crime, with Parliament Speaker Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur warning of its impact on the economy, coastal communities and international shipping.
Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, speaker of Somalia's House of the People, said piracy had damaged Somalia's reputation and undermined confidence in the security of its territorial waters, while increasing costs related to maritime transport, insurance and the protection of commercial vessels.
“Piracy has affected our economy, coastal communities, fishermen and international trade passing through Somali waters,” Nur said, according to remarks released by Somalia's parliament.
Somalia's coastline stretches for thousands of kilometres along some of the world's most strategically important maritime routes, linking the Indian Ocean with the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. The country's waters have long been vulnerable to piracy, although international naval patrols and efforts by Somali authorities sharply reduced attacks from their peak more than a decade ago.
Nur cited a World Bank study that estimated Somali piracy had imposed costs of up to $18 million a year on the global economy during the period covered by the research.
He said Somalia had both a national responsibility and international obligations to prevent its territory and waters from being used as bases for piracy, kidnapping and other maritime crimes.
The speaker pointed to legislative measures adopted by the Federal Parliament to strengthen the fight against piracy and prevent kidnappings, but stressed that legislation alone would not resolve the problem.
Effective enforcement, stronger security institutions and improved coastal surveillance were needed, he said, along with greater capacity within the judiciary and prosecution services to investigate and bring maritime offenders to justice.
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Nur also called for greater economic opportunities for communities living along Somalia's coastline, arguing that addressing the conditions affecting coastal populations should form part of a broader strategy against maritime crime.
“Piracy cannot be addressed through laws alone,” he said, calling for effective implementation of existing legislation and stronger cooperation between security, judicial and prosecutorial institutions.
He also urged Somalia to deepen cooperation with regional countries and international partners involved in maritime security.
At the same time, Nur stressed that Somalia should assume primary responsibility for the security and management of its territorial waters, linking the issue to the country's sovereignty and efforts to rebuild state institutions.
The speaker said combating piracy was not only a maritime security issue but also part of Somalia's wider state-building agenda. Protecting the country's sovereignty and natural resources, strengthening the national economy and safeguarding international commerce passing through Somali waters were all closely connected to improving maritime security, he said.
His remarks come as Somalia seeks to strengthen its ability to manage its coastline and maritime resources while working with regional and international partners on security in the waters off its coast.
Somali authorities have repeatedly emphasized that sustainable maritime security requires both effective law enforcement and economic development in coastal areas, particularly where communities depend heavily on fishing and other marine activities.
Nur's comments underline the challenge facing Somalia as it seeks to move from reliance on international maritime security support towards greater national responsibility for policing its extensive coastline and protecting one of the region's key commercial waterways.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
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