The Stable Seas launched its Western Indian Ocean Report providing an overview of maritime security covering nine issue areas with a focus on those countries spanning the East African littoral.
According to the report, the socioeconomic factors that drove young men to hijack vessels for ransom during the peak of piracy, including insecurity on land and a lack of viable economic alternatives, now motivate participation in illicit trades and transnational crime.
Economic and political marginalization amidst ongoing conflicts in Yemen, Somalia, and Mozambique is also driving some individuals to participate in terrorism and political violence, which is inhibiting locally-driven blue economic development, an essential countermeasure to the draw of illicit activities.
Until the root causes of these actions are eliminated and maritime spaces secured, illicit maritime activity, maritime terrorism, and blue economic underdevelopment are likely to continue, facilitating regional maritime insecurity
says Stable Seas.
What is more, several countries in the region continue to battle economic marginalization and government corruption, resulting in political exclusion and instability.
Piracy and Armed Robbery at Sea
Piracy remains suppressed off the coast of Somalia largely due to security measures at sea and capacity building efforts on land, but the underlying drivers, including socio-economic insecurity and weak law enforcement capacity, remain. If ship protection measures end, this could result in a resurgence of pirate activity off the Somali coast.
Maritime Mixed Migration
Before Covid-19, the “Eastern Route” from the Horn of Africa to Yemen was the most traveled maritime migration route. Ethiopians comprised a majority of individuals on this route. The region has taken numerous actions to address voluntary migration and human trafficking, including participating in the Khartoum Process.
Illicit Trades
Trade networks are increasingly exploited by illicit actors in the region, providing economic benefits to organized criminal groups and other violent non-state actors. The small arms and light weapons trade between Somalia and Yemen is of particular concern and is contributing to arms trafficking in other parts of Africa. Successful counter-trafficking measures from regional actors like Kenya have had the unintended effect of pushing some illicit trades deeper south into Tanzania and Mozambique.
Fisheries
The region is warming at a rate faster than any other tropical ocean region, threatening fishery health. Foreign fishing is also a problem, owing to low surveillance capacity and unequal foreign fishing agreements. Luckily, traditional top-down fishing mechanisms are beginning to shift as governments and stakeholders increasingly recognize the value of local knowledge. Empowered communities will remain a necessity to ocean health and fishery sustainability.
Blue Economy
There is a strong momentum towards sustainable blue economic development and the region maintains several blue resources, including coral reefs, fisheries, and offshore hydrocarbon reserves. Several states are heavily reliant on tourism revenue, including Mauritius, Seychelles, and Tanzania. As corporations and international entities become increasingly involved in these efforts, it is critical that coastal communities be allowed to maintain involvement and ownership.
Coastal Welfare
Violent non-state actors pose serious physical and economic threats to coastal communities in the region, particularly Al-Shabaab, Houthi rebels, and Ansar al-Sunna. Multidimensional poverty and climate disasters further threaten the stability and security of these populations. Sustainable coastal welfare requires addressing all dimensions of security, including the physical, environmental, and economic, and ensuring the dignity of coastal individuals in these efforts.
Rule of Law
Corruption is contributing to the longevity of violent non-state actors in the region. Political exclusion and economic marginalization are impeding inclusive rule of law, even fomenting political violence and terrorism in several states. Inclusive governance and gender-responsive institutions lead to more peaceful and secure states, and should be prioritized in maritime capacity-building assistance efforts.
This requires boosting the meaningful representation and participation of women and other traditionally marginalized groups in governance and maritime security efforts
the report notes.
Maritime Enforcement Capacity
Security services in the region remain focused on onshore threats to national security and, with the exception of Mauritius and Seychelles, maritime security personnel comprise less than 10% of security services. A mixture of asset procurement, personnel training and development, and increased policy awareness and attention, have boosted regional maritime enforcement.
International Cooperation
The region hosts multiple cooperative mechanisms that have proved successful in countering threats like piracy and armed robbery off the coast of Somalia. Island nations are particularly affiliated with these efforts.
These institutions are threatened by duplicated efforts, fractured interests and political will, and a lack of coordination between donors and implementing partners. Addressing these challenges and building more resilient institutions will better position these cooperative mechanisms to counter pressing security threats.
EXPLORE MORE AT STABLE SEAS WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN REPORT
