Geoeconomic Risks for Island States
Vijay Makhan has warned that renewed hijackings off Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden pose a geoeconomic threat to Mauritius. The warning highlights that Mauritius' prosperity depends on secure sea lanes for food, fuel, and manufactured goods.
Makhan noted that while Somali piracy seemed to belong to another chapter of Indian Ocean history due to naval patrols and regional cooperation, the networks ashore were never wholly dismantled. In recent months, a succession of hijackings off Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden has brought the threat back into view.
According to Makhan, this is not a return to the scale of piracy seen between 2008 and 2011. Instead, it serves as a warning that a suppressed threat can resurge when conditions at sea and on land favor it. The concern for Mauritius is not whether pirates will appear off its shores, but what a renewed threat along the Horn of Africa could mean for a state whose security and prosperity are bound to the ocean.
Piracy Statistics and Operational Challenges
Data from the International Maritime Bureau indicates that global piracy incidents in the first half of 2026 were at their lowest level since 1992. However, Somali pirates were responsible for 94 percent of crew members taken hostage during that period.
Makhan stated that a prolonged rise in insecurity around the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea approaches could increase insurance premiums, freight charges, and delivery uncertainty for Mauritius.
Naval forces are currently responding to simultaneous pressures, including the Iran war and Houthi attacks on shipping. These concurrent demands may stretch patrols and complicate coordination efforts against piracy.
Political Obstacles and Historical Precedents
Somalia’s federal authorities and Puntland face serious political distrust with bare cooperation, hindering intelligence-sharing and enforcement against piracy.
Claims that Houthis direct or finance Somali pirate groups remain unconfirmed.
In June 2008, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1816 unanimously with Somalia’s consent. The resolution authorized states cooperating with Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government to enter Somali territorial waters for six months.