A Study of Piracy Trends and the Efficacy of Private Armed Security Teams in the Gulf of Guinea

A Study of Piracy Trends and the Efficacy of Private Armed Security Teams in the Gulf of Guinea

Piracy is a serious threat to maritime security and trade in the Gulf of Guinea, a region that spans from Senegal to Angola and encompasses 19 coastal states. According to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), the Gulf of Guinea accounted for 40% of the world’s piracy incidents in 2020, with 81 attacks out of 195 reported globally. The majority of these attacks involved kidnapping for ransom, which has become the preferred modus operandi of pirate groups operating in the region. In 2020, 130 seafarers were abducted in the Gulf of Guinea, the highest number ever recorded in the region (GIS Reports, 2022).

However, recent data from the IMB shows a significant decline in piracy incidents in the Gulf of Guinea in 2021 and 2022. Between January and September 2022, only 13 attacks were reported in the region, compared to 27 over the same period in 2021 and 67 in 2020. This represents a 32% drop in overall attacks in the region and a 80% drop in kidnappings (GCSP, 2022). What factors have contributed to this decline and what challenges remain for ensuring maritime security and stability in the Gulf of Guinea?

One possible factor is the increased deployment of private armed security teams (PASTs) on board commercial vessels transiting through the region. PASTs are composed of trained and licensed personnel who provide protection and deterrence against pirate attacks. PASTs have been widely used in other piracy hotspots, such as the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden, where they have proven to be effective in reducing piracy incidents and casualties (UNODC, 2017). However, the use of PASTs in the Gulf of Guinea has been controversial and regulated by different legal frameworks and national legislations. Some countries in the region, such as Nigeria and Angola, prohibit or restrict the use of PASTs, while others, such as Ghana and Togo, allow or facilitate their operation (Bueger & Edmunds, 2017).

The benefits of PASTs include enhancing the safety and confidence of seafarers, reducing the risk of hijacking and kidnapping, lowering the insurance premiums and operational costs for ship owners, and complementing the efforts of national navies and coast guards. However, PASTs also pose some challenges and risks, such as creating legal uncertainties and liabilities, increasing the potential for violent confrontations and escalation, undermining the sovereignty and jurisdiction of coastal states, interfering with regional cooperation and coordination mechanisms, and diverting resources and attention from addressing the root causes of piracy (Bueger & Edmunds, 2017).

Therefore, while PASTs may offer a short-term solution to mitigate piracy threats in the Gulf of Guinea, they are not a panacea or a substitute for a comprehensive and sustainable approach to maritime security. As noted by UN officials and Security Council members during a recent meeting on piracy in the region, more needs to be done to fully operationalize the maritime security architecture established by the Yaoundé Code of Conduct in 2013, which provides a framework for cooperation among regional states and organizations (UN News, 2022). Moreover, it is essential to address the underlying causes of piracy, such as poverty, unemployment, corruption, weak governance, environmental degradation, illegal fishing, and organized crime (UN Press Release, 2022).

References

Bueger C., & Edmunds T. (2017). Beyond Seablindness: A New Agenda for Maritime Security Studies. International Affairs ,93(6),1293-1311.

GCSP. (2022). Maritime Security: Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. Retrieved from https://www.gcsp.ch/publications/maritime-security-piracy-gulf-guinea

GIS Reports. (2022). The rise of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. Retrieved from https://www.gisreportsonline.com/r/piracy-gulf-guinea/

In On Africa. (2022). Piracy’s decline in Gulf of Guinea is good news for African Trade. Retrieved from https://www.inonafrica.com/2022/11/30/piracys-decline-in-gulf-of-guinea-is-good-news-for-african-trade/

UN News. (2022). Stronger action required to address changing dynamics of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. Retrieved from https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/11/1130937

UN Press Release. (2022). Piracy, Armed Robbery Declining in Gulf of Guinea,
But Enhanced National, Regional Efforts Needed for Stable Maritime Security,
Top Official Tells Security Council. Retrieved from https://press.un.org/en/2022/sc15113.doc.htm

UNODC. (2017). The State of Maritime Piracy 2016. Retrieved from https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/piracy/UNODC_The_State_of_Maritime_Piracy_2016.pdf