Title: The Lack of Maritime Security in the Horn of Africa Region: Scope and Effect
Abstract: ABSTRACT The maritime trade routes around the Horn of Africa as well as the region's maritime resources, which could contribute towards sustained development, ate threatened by a lack of maritime security. Somalia has been without an effective central government since 1991 and its coast and harbours ate virtually unpoliced. As a result piracy, together with a multitude of other illegal activities, abounds. Due to Somalia's strategic location this lack of maritime security threatens international maritime trade and has a noticeable impact on the security, stability, economic development and quality of life in the region. The situation in Somalia has clearly shown that a lack of law and order ashore will inevitably spill over into the maritime domain, while the lack of maritime security will conversely generate lawlessness ashore. Maritime security can be enhanced through proper maritime domain awareness and maritime policing, which include everything from harbour security to control over the surrounding sea and punitive actions against transgressors. Warships and multi-national task forces ate active in the region's busy shipping lanes, but they have not established proper control at sea. Security, including maritime security, is very important to the region, but in order to create stability ashore and at sea, enhanced international and regional co-operation and an integrated approach to maritime security are necessary. 1. INTRODUCTION Africa is dependent on the sea. Much of its international trade moves through its ports, while its maritime resources, that could sustain development, ate under-utilised and threatened. Many of Africa's natural resources are found along or near the coast. In addition, the commercial interest of countries and companies operating in the littoral areas must be protected and safe passage for shipping must be secured. As a result maritime security along Africa's coastline is important, specifically at a time when there is also a renewed strategic focus on Africa and, amongst others, a 'scramble' for its resources. Pervasive maritime insecurity is a significant threat to security in Africa, to its development, to the shipping around Africa's coast and to marine resources, specifically in areas such as the Horn of Africa. The busy maritime trade routes around the Horn of Africa go back thousands of years and link the Indian Ocean to the Suez Canal. It is a choke point and securing free and sale traffic around it is internationally important. Somalia is strategically located on these routes, but it is without an effective central government. Its coasts and harbours ate virtually unpoliced and the humanitarian situation in the country is extremely serious. Though foreign warships patrol the region's busy shipping lanes, the lack of maritime security has an impact on the economic development, regional security and stability of the entire region. In economic and strategic terms the region is therefore paying a severe penalty as a result of insufficient maritime security. This article focuses on the scope and effect of the lack of maritime security in the Horn of Africa region. Following comments on the security situation of the region, maritime security problems will be discussed, whereafter actual and possible responses are considered. 2. CAUSES OF THE MARITIME SECURITY PROBLEMS IN THE HORN OF AFRICA REGION For more than three decades peace and stability have evaded the Horn of Africa as countries in the region have been ravaged by conflict. Ethiopia experienced a civil war and has been engaged in conflicts with Eritrea and Somalia. Sudan has been torn apart by a civil war and Somalia has been ravaged by clan warfare. During the Cold War the major powers pursued their national interests in the region and added to the turbulence. However, these conflicts have become interrelated, with factions in the various countries obtaining and giving support across national borders. …
Publication Year: 2009
Publication Date: 2009-05-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 5
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