The return of Somali piracy. Safeseas contributes to joint statement

Somali pirates show increasing activity, implying a growing threat to international shipping. This presents a situation in which piracy is no longer suppressed in the region. On the 29th of January the Indian Ocean Commission issued a statement and call for action that SafeSeas contributed to along with the two centers of the MASE architecture. … Read more

Somali pirates are back in action. A strong global response is needed

by Christian Bueger With the military escalation in the Red Sea caused by the Houthi attacks on merchant vessels and ongoing coercion by Iran, the Western Indian Ocean seems further away than ever from its self-declared goal to be a region of peace and prosperity. Growing maritime insecurity is also fed by the persistence of … Read more

New Commentary: the contact group in the Western Indian Ocean

In early 2022 a subtle, but substantial shift took place in the Western Indian Ocean’s security architecture: The Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (known as CGPCS) closed shop. It was replaced by a new format. Yet, not much action followed. In a new commentary, Christian Bueger investigates the prospects of the … Read more

New article – how to improve the maritime security architecture in the Western Indian Ocean

Professor Christian Bueger and Dr. Jan Stockbruegger have conducted a review of the current security situation in the Western Indian Ocean. The study is published in African Security Review. They show which insecurities are on the rise and argue that the rise of geopolitical concerns increasingly produces a militarization dilemma: foreign naval forces are needed … Read more

SAFESEAS attends 20th plenary meeting of the Contact Group on Piracy

From the 5th to 7th of July the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia held its 20th plenary meeting in Mauritius. Christian Bueger and Robert McCabe from the SAFESEAS team participated in the working group meetings and plenary discussions. Dr. Bueger was part of the Seychelles delegation and advised the Chairmen’s team … Read more

SafeSeas attends plenary of contact group on piracy (CGPCS)

In the first week of July the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) is holding its 20th plenary meeting in Mauritius.  One of the long-standing core agenda items of the CGPCS – the main global governance body for the coordination of counter-piracy work of the international community – is coordination of … Read more