A Sustainable Approach to Counter Piracy and Armed Robbery?

Summary

Julian Pawlak and Deniz Kocak explore the persistent threat of piracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping in the Gulf of Guinea, contrasting it with past successes off the Horn of Africa. They argue that counting incidents is insufficient and advocate for Maritime Security Sector Reform (MSSR) that emphasizes local ownership, capacity‑building, and integrated governance across security, economic, and judicial ministries. The episode highlights the EU’s potential role as a facilitator—providing training, coordination, and naval presence—while stressing that sustainable security must be driven by regional actors and existing frameworks like the Yaoundé Code of Conduct. Experts cited underscore that without addressing underlying state fragility, illegal fishing, and smuggling, any anti‑piracy effort will remain short‑lived.