La Croix | Off the coast of Somalia, pirates are taking advantage of war to make a comeback

Cargo container ship at sea. Source: iStock

Louis Borer, Senior Analyst at Risk Intelligence, recently shared insights with La Croix on the resurgence of Somali piracy.

18 June 2026

The original article was published on 06 June 2026 on La Croix’s website.

Borer noted that piracy operates on a “gains versus risks” ratio. He also stressed that the decline in attacks over the past decade did not mean the threat had disappeared, as pirate groups have shifted towards other illicit activities, including arms and khat trafficking.

According to Borer, Somali pirates continue to employ sophisticated tactics, including the use of hijacked dhows as “mother ships” to target vulnerable vessels. He also noted that shipowners have reduced piracy risks through measures such as physical barriers, armed guards and increased vessel speed.

Read the full article in French on La Croix (behind paywall)

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