Kikorer‘blog

Somalia has been a largely lawless state since the fall of long-serving ruler Siad Barre in 1991. Warlords, religious groups and clans have been fighting for control of Somalia.

The study, by the University of Oxford and King's College London, says Somalia witnessed a surge in pirate attacks when territory was contested or elections took place. This suggested the behaviour of clan leaders in Somalia was similar to that of politicians in Italy and Taiwan, who extended protection to criminals when they needed extra funds to further political ambitions, the study adds. "Local communities support pirates when there isn't a better alternative income stream," said Federico Varese, a co-author of the report based at the University Oxford.

"By improving the infrastructure of Somalia, building new harbours and roads to link the remote areas to trade routes, our research concludes that poorer communities would be less likely to resort to piracy," he added. People in Somalia's north-eastern city of Bosasso cut ties with pirates once the economy grew, the study says. "As the city regained its importance as a major trading port for livestock and an import centre for the wider region, pirates were no longer tolerated - pirate hostages were freed and pirates were imprisoned by the local clan leaders," the study adds.