Piracy off Somalia's coast would fall sharply if the country's economy was more developed, a study says.| Perhaps the economy would be more developed if piracy off the coast was curbed... |
Foreign navies have a strong presence around Somalia in order to keep shipping lanes safe. This has led to a decline in attacks off the Somali coast, with the UN estimating that about 40 people are still being held by pirates.
At the peak of their activity three years ago, the pirates held more than 700 crew members and more than 30 ships. The World Bank estimates that pirates netted more than $400m (230m) in ransom money between 2005 and 2012.
The study, by the University of Oxford and King's College London, says Somalia witnessed a surge in pirate attacks when territory was contested or elections took place. This suggested the behaviour of clan leaders in Somalia was similar to that of politicians in Italy and Taiwan, who extended protection to criminals when they needed extra funds to further political ambitions, the study adds.
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"By improving the infrastructure of Somalia, building new harbours and roads to link the remote areas to trade routes, our research concludes that poorer communities would be less likely to resort to piracy," he added.
People in Somalia's north-eastern city of Bosasso cut ties with pirates once the economy grew, the study says.
"As the city regained its importance as a major trading port for livestock and an import centre for the wider region, pirates were no longer tolerated — pirate hostages were freed and pirates were imprisoned by the local clan leaders," the study adds.