Sea Piracy and Maritime Security Threat in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean (2008-2012)

Abstract

This paper examined the rampant incidence of sea piracy, that had incresed the maritime security threat. The Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean mainly have been focused through this study. The time period has been fixed from 2008 to 2012. Servere attempt had been made to attack crew members by pirates. The purpose of this study is therefore to assess the economic loss of the activities of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. Data for the study were collected mainly from secondary sources; by reviewing the existing literature on sea piracy and maritime security, discussed in textbooks on international relations and world politics; journals, newspapers and the internet. The study revealed, among others findings that sea piracy contributed to both economic and human losses in the littoral communities of the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. Because of the danger the threat by piracy posed to the International Security, the UN Security Council passed resolutions 1814, 1816, 1838 and 1846 in 2008 for counter-piracy measures to protect humanitarian aid. The study also highlighted that anti-piracy. The paper recommended that International Maritime Organizations and other related bodies should set in motion the process of institutionalizing the present counter-piracy measures in the region so as to guarantee relative security and stability therein.