THE PROBLEM OF SOMALIAN PIRACY: THE NEXUS BETWEEN STATE FAILURE AND PIRACY ON WATERS OFF THE COAST OF SOMALIA

¹ Odoh, S.I.; ² Ejikeme Jombo Nwagwu and ³Chilaka, Francis Chigozie

¹Department of Political Science, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki

² Department of Political Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka

³ Center for American Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka

E-mail: Odoh_ituma@yahoo.com; chigozielaski@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Piracy has acquired a more dangerous character and undermines maritime business on waters off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden. Ships and fishing vessels are being attacked by pirates who are essentially but not exclusively from Somalia. The study anchors its analysis on the fragile State thesis and argues that piracy on waters off the coast off Somalia has to deal with the fact that the underlying reason for the piracy problem is the lack of a functional internal administration that has the monopoly of legitimate use of force in Somalia, which has become a failed state. It is the view of this paper that measures to deal with piracy in Somalia cannot have a fundamental solution without the establishment of a stable internal order inside Somalia.

Keywords: Somalia, Piracy, Failed state, fragile state,