The recent large-scale attacks conducted by the Yemeni Houthi rebels on international shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden have exposed the re-emerging threat of maritime terrorism. Along and off the East African coastline, terrorist groups are increasingly expanding their landward activities into the maritime domain, revealing transnational maritime links in the region and beyond. This paper investigates the extent and recent trends of maritime terrorism in East Africa, as well as the drivers of the recent surge. The research finds that maritime terrorism in the region is mainly driven by smuggling and extortion, rather than offensive actions. An assessment of maritime terrorism in East Africa allows for better comprehension of the fragility of its maritime spheres, amidst the growing geostrategic and geo-economic significance of the Western Indian Ocean in international relations and security affairs.
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About this series
The publications of the research and policy paper series "Security Dialogue for East Africa: Insights & Perspectives” are regularly published by the Regional Programme Security Dialogue for East Africa. The paper series seeks to inform in an analytical and comprehensive way on the latest security policy developments in the East African region and strengthen the overall interest for this increasingly important topic. Developments related to security policy in East Africa are investigated in a broader sense by the authors of the series. Alongside traditional security issues such as interstate conflicts and terrorism, the series also addresses adjacent topics such as displacement and migration, as well as the impact of climate change on security.