Combatting Piracy in the Western Indian Ocean: Strategic Pathways for Eastern Africa

Executive Summary

The resurgence of piracy in the Western Indian Ocean underscores the need for Eastern Africa to move beyond reactive military responses toward a comprehensive regional maritime governance strategy. Sustainable maritime security depends on strengthening Maritime Domain Awareness, harmonising legal frameworks, and building indigenous institutional and technological capabilities. Protecting the Blue Economy requires integrating maritime security with sustainable fisheries, climate resilience and coastal development to address the socio-economic drivers of piracy. Strategic partnerships should prioritise technology transfer, innovation and industrial development while reinforcing regional ownership. At the same time, disrupting piracy demands targeting the broader transnational criminal networks and illicit financial flows that sustain maritime crime. A common Eastern Africa Maritime Strategy anchored in integrated ocean governance would strengthen policy coherence, collective bargaining power, strategic autonomy and long-term maritime resilience.