Winners and Losers of West African Piracy – 3 Part Series

Part 1: The Invisible Enemy

Why are there no profiles on the groups behind piracy in West Africa? This is the question I sought to answer in hopes of better understanding why piracy in this region has been so persistent. As I spent hours scouring news sites, maritime security pages, and academic journals, I was struck by how little information there was available discussing actually who these guys were. Were they terrorists, criminals, militants? This seemed like a gaping hole in the industry’s knowledge…….

Part 2: The Winners and Losers

Part 3: Stakeholder Analysis

The Gulf of Guinea and wider West African waters are considered the world’s most dangerous hotspot for piracy. In 2018 130 hostages were taken, 78 seafarers kidnapped were taken for ransom, and 6 vessels were hijacked in the Gulf of Guinea alone.[1] In 2019 worldwide piracy decreased, but the number of seafarers kidnapped for ransom in the Gulf of Guinea remains a problem as indicated by IMB reports, which are not comprehensive due to underreporting by companies. However, it is clear that worldwide improvements have not extended to this region.[2] Furthermore, halfway through 2020 the situation does not seem to be improving: the International Maritime Bureau has logged 49 seafarers kidnapped in the first half of the year alone, with attacks occurring farther and farther from the coastline.[3] …….