PIRACY IN THE GULF OF GUINEA - By Taylor Whitsell - Harvard Model Congress
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
PIRACY IN THE GULF OF GUINEA
By Taylor Whitsell
INTRODUCTION
Pirates have been fictionalized and mythologized in a wide range
of books, television shows, and films, from Robert Louis Stevenson’s
Treasure Island to the smash-hit movie series “Pirates of the
Caribbean.” Yet what many do not realize is that the problem of
piracy is not confined to the silver screen, but rather persists to the
current day, posing a myriad of multi-faceted challenges to the
While piracy off the regions that it affects.
coast of Somalia For those who are aware of the problem of piracy, many
has decreased, immediately think of Somalia. Between 2008 and 2013, pirate
piracy in the Gulf of attacks increased dramatically, largely as a result of the prospect of
Guinea has seizing money and valuable resources as well as the political
increased. instability induced by regime change in the country (BBC 2018). The
AP Photo/Farah Abdi
Warsameh (DW 2020) United Nations Security Council took note of the worsening crisis,
and ultimately approved the deployment of a coalition of national
and international naval forces, in cooperation with Somalia, to the
high seas by the Horn of Africa (Reva 2018).
International intervention has helped improve the situation in
Gulf of Guinea – Somalia dramatically, but unfortunately piracy is on the rise
body of water off the elsewhere. Specifically, piracy is on the rise in the Gulf of Guinea.
coast of West Africa, In fact, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) calculated that the
extending from Gulf of Guinea accounted for “82% of maritime kidnappings”
Senegal at its globally between January and September of 2019 (DW 2020).
northernmost point to Although the United States can learn from the response in Somalia,
Angola at its the situation in the Gulf of Guinea is made more complex by the sheer
southernmost point number of West African nations affected by the problem. Senate
(DW 2020) Foreign Relations must find a way to address all of the political,
economic, and human rights implications of this international crisis.
HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS
EXPLANATION OF THE ISSUE
Historical Development
Contrary to popular imagination, piracy has emerged as a critical
security challenge in the Gulf of Guinea more recently (Kamal-Deen
2015). In particular, piratical incidents including kidnappings,
hijackings, and robberies have grown significantly since 2005
(Kamal-Deen 2015). What caused piracy to increase in the Gulf of
Guinea in 2005?
Explaining the rise of piracy is a complex endeavor entailing
multiple variables, but historical and political analysis points to the
conception of a Nigerian insurgency group called the Movement
Movement for the for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) as a primary
Emancipation of impetus (Kamal-Deen, 2015). In its proclaimed mission to combat
the Niger Delta the exploitation of the region by international oil companies, MEND
(MEND) – loosely attacked oil pipelines, attempted to extort companies, and
organized federation kidnapped foreign oil employees to use as hostages to gain leverage
of armed insurgent in negotiations and even ransoms (Hanson 2007). MEND attacks on
groups that claim to offshore oil installations paved the way for militant groups’ turn to
oppose the the sea. Only a semi-organized coalition in the first place, MEND
exploitation of oil sparked the splintering of many groups that began to employ piracy
resources in the as a means for making money (Kamal-Deen 2015). As years passed,
region and engage in pirates began to expand their reach to the high seas near other
criminal activity to countries in the region (Kamal-Deen 2015). In addition, pirates have
disrupt oil production become more sophisticated in their attacks, targeting crucial
watercrafts like oil vessels and stealing fishing boats to use for
storage (Kamal-Deen 2015).
The problem has not gone away to this day. In fact, the
International Maritime Bureau identified an increase in pirate
attacks during the first quarter of the year in 2020 compared to that
same quarter in 2019 (Reed 2020). In fact, while much of the
coverage of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea has focused on the pirates’
efforts to steal and illegally sell oil, recent reports indicate that
pirates are increasingly turning toward kidnapping crew members,
often to make money from ransoms (Whitehouse 2020). This shift
may in part be explained by the collapse of oil prices in 2015
(Whitehouse 2020). Nevertheless, it is important to note that pirates
in the Gulf of Guinea are continuing to expand violent operations and
do not show signs of letting up.
Scope of the Problem
piracy – criminal acts First, it is important to define piracy as it stands under
such as kidnapping, international law. The United Nations Convention on the Law
robbery, and violence of the Sea (UNCLOS), which provides the international legal
committed on the high framework criminalizing piracy, uses piracy to refer to “any illegal
seas
© HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS 2021 – REDISTRIBUTION OR REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 2
HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS
United Nations acts of violence or detention, or any act of depredation” perpetrated
Convention on the by members of a private vessel (UN 2010). Moreover, the crimes
Law of the Sea – must occur on international waters, meaning that crimes perpetrated
international convention within a state’s internal water-based territory are categorized
providing the legal differently. However, many pirates also commit water-based
framework for robberies in national and internal bodies of water, linking and
criminalizing piracy blurring the line between those maritime crimes and the specific
internationally recognized crime of piracy.
In this section, we will explore some of the main problems
associated with and root causes of piracy. Too many possess a
simplistic view of the problem of piracy. The problem itself is derived
from a variety of root causes and produces a variety of severe
consequences. While you should conduct further research to grant
adequate consideration to all of the relevant components of the issue,
we will describe the primary dimensions of piracy below: trade
disruption, weak governance, violence and crime, and poverty.
Trade
One critical dimension of piracy is the implications that it has for
trade. A whopping ninety percent of trade in which West African
countries engage occurs via sea (Egbejule 2019). Thus, sea-based
trade and shipping are crucial fixtures of the West African regional
economy. Piracy directly threatens that trade, which creates harmful
economic effects for West African countries.
Ships that sail in the Gulf of Guinea have to account for all of the
potential costs of the kidnappings, robberies, and violence that might
take place at the hands of pirates (Egbejule 2019). In fact, Oceans
Beyond Piracy calculated that piracy presented an economic cost of
Pictured above is a $818.1 billion for West Africa in 2017 (Safety4Sea 2018). This cost
geographical not only reflects the value of looted goods, but also the massive
display of pirate security costs that businesses and countries must incur, from using
attacks in the Gulf security contractors to obtaining insurance to even paying ransoms
of Guinea in 2019, (Egbejule 2019).
by type The reputation that the Gulf of Guinea has gained as one of the
The Economist
most precarious shipping routes in the world has also proven
damaging in and of itself; countries like India have even placed bans
on their nationals operating in the region (Egbejule 2019). This has
proven devastating for countries like Nigeria, for which India is a
fundamental trading partner and one of the largest recipients of oil
exports (Egbejule 2019). By making shipping more dangerous and
increasing costs, piracy has proven incredibly economically
devastating for West African countries near the Gulf of Guinea.
© HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS 2021 – REDISTRIBUTION OR REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 3
HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS
Weak Governance
It would be remiss to discuss the problem of West African piracy
without also considering its relationship with the political problems
in many of the countries bordering the Gulf of Guinea.
For many of these countries, governments have been unable to
meet one of the foundational requirements of governance:
establishing control over their territory (Felbab-Brown 2016). This
means that they have trouble establishing the strong security
institutions needed to combat insurgency or illegally formed groups
like piracy groups. This problem is compounded by corruption
within governments, which often siphons off money and resources
that could otherwise go toward land and maritime security
apparatuses (Felbab-Brown 2016).
Moreover, many West African governments are at the mercy of
the foreign oil companies, which provide the most significant
component of their revenue streams, thus exacerbating one of the
problems that led to the formation of MEND in the first place
(Fiorelli 2014). Groups of pirates form in the interest of obtaining
profits that they may not ever be able to receive through the
traditional means, and are able to exploit the state’s lack of control
and security to succeed in turning it into a lucrative endeavor. In
addition, states’ weak judicial systems may mean that even if pirates
are caught, there is no guaranteeing that they will be brought to
justice (Fiorelli 2014).
Violence & Crime
As mentioned before, many pirate groups in the Gulf of Guinea
are turning increasingly toward kidnappings and violence toward
crew members of vessels as a prime strategy. In and of itself, this
violence should merit international attention: the importance of
protecting the lives of sailors and seafarers should not be
understated.
The presidential
As pirates expanded their reach beyond just the coast of Nigeria,
palace of Equatorial
they have increased their capacity for strategic planning and
Guinea, pictured
violence. Piracy evolved from the “opportunistic sea robbery” of the
above, faced an
early years into a large-scale, coordinated operation in which groups
attack by pirates in
identified valuable targets and customized violent responses (Kamal-
2009
The Guardian
Deen 2015). In 2009, pirates even launched an assault from the sea
on Equatorial Guinea’s presidential palace (Kamal-Deen 2015).
Pirates have displayed an increased propensity to kill and have begun
cornering ships further offshore than before (Kamal-Deen 2015).
Policy solutions must address the fact that pirates continue to
modernize their approaches and have become more violent in recent
years.
© HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS 2021 – REDISTRIBUTION OR REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 4
HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS
Poverty
Finally, one of the most important root causes of rising piracy in
the Gulf of Guinea is poverty. As mentioned before, militant groups
in the Niger Delta coalesced around anger at the exploitation of local
oil resources by international companies. While oil has certainly
been a boon for West African economies, the revenue gained by West
African governments has not made its way down into the pockets of
everyday people (Borgen Magazine 2020). Lack of economic
opportunities and frustration at international companies and
governments has motivated the formation of piracy groups as a last
resort.
Another important element of the increase in piracy has been the
Illegal fishing increase in illegal fishing. Foreign ships often encroach into national
captures critical waters off the coast of West Africa and engage in substantive fishing
without the requisite permits (Rinkel 2015). Illegal fishing captures
economic value critical economic value and revenue from local fishermen who have
and revenue from relied on the industry for many years. Academic research has
local fishermen demonstrated that fishermen and other individuals affected by this
who have relied on economic loss turn to piracy to meet their needs (Denton & Harris
that industry for 2019). Overall, it is critical to consider how the underlying cause of
many years. poverty contributes to piracy in the region in order to develop
comprehensive solutions.
Congressional Action
While the US Congress has largely refrained from intervening
significantly in this issue, action has taken place. In 2013, Sen. Jeff
Flake (R-AZ) introduced S Res 288 recognizing the need to improve
maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea and to foster better
cooperation between the US and pertinent West African countries to
tackle piracy (Congress.gov 2014). We urge you to read this
resolution in full, as it serves as a critical lens into the objectives and
priorities of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during that
time.
Other Policy Action
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has passed several
resolutions on piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. In 2011 and 2012, the
UNSC passed Res 2018 advocating for regional cooperation and Res
Yaoundé Code of 2039 entailing specific recommendations by the Secretary General,
Conduct – including the encouragement of “international partners” like the US
framework for to assist in handling the situation (UN 2020).
cooperation between In 2013, in response to the UNSC resolutions, several regional
West African nations West African organizations, including the Economic Community of
established to West African states and the Gulf of Guinea Commission, adopted the
facilitate counter- Yaoundé Code of Conduct to establish a framework for regional
piracy operations cooperation on counter-piracy measures and projects (IMO 2020).
© HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS 2021 – REDISTRIBUTION OR REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 5HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS
The Code of Conduct prioritizes information sharing, security
cooperation, effective prosecution, and medical care for victims of
piracy (IMO 2020), but we would also encourage you to read the
Code of Conduct in full in order to become more familiar with
specific provisions.
IDEOLOGICAL VIEWPOINTS
Although piracy is not an issue which necessarily maps clearly
onto the American domestic ideological spectrum, there are
fundamental differences between the general viewpoints of
conservatives and liberals that will help you identify where your
Senator may stand.
Conservative View
In the realm of foreign policy, conservatives are generally split
hawks – individuals between hawks and isolationists. On one hand, many mainstream
who subscribe to conservatives are generally more prone than their liberal
foreign policies that counterparts to favor foreign policy solutions that make use of
generally favor the military force or intervention. Such conservatives might, then, favor
use of military force sending in naval forces to help enforce maritime security in the Gulf
or intervention of Guinea.
There is also a faction of libertarians within conservative politics
that tend to favor isolationist policies, or policies that involve as little
US intervention in other countries’ affairs as possible. They also tend
to be less trustful of international institutions like the United
Nations. These individuals would be more likely to favor solutions
that place responsibility on the West African nations themselves to
guarantee security in their region.
Both factions generally tend to be critical, or at least cautious, of
policies that entail increasing government spending. Thus,
conservatives are less likely than liberals to favor increasing foreign
aid, for example.
A final point that might appeal to conservatives on this issue is
that piracy poses an increasingly grave risk to business and shipping
in the region. As costs increase and businesses turn elsewhere,
Nigeria’s oil exports will continue to fall (Fiorelli 2014). This could
affect the US energy supply, which has traditionally relied
significantly on these oil exports (Fiorelli 2014). Conservatives are
more likely to take action on this issue if it is clear that it affects the
domestic situation of the US.
Liberal View
There are also internal divisions within liberal political circles. On
one hand, many liberals tend to subscribe to foreign policies that
© HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS 2021 – REDISTRIBUTION OR REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 6HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS
promote international engagement, international institutions, and
international cooperation. They believe that the United States bears
great responsibility to be a steward of democracy and human rights
in the world and thus should be active in helping solve global
problems. Although liberals generally tend to favor military
intervention less than their conservative counterparts, they do
recognize there is a role for the American military in foreign policy,
especially with respect to ensuring humanitarianism. Often,
moderate liberals fall into this camp. Liberals in this camp would not
necessarily be opposed to using international naval forces, for
example, but would usually want to deploy foreign aid or promote
international cooperation as well.
However, some liberals, especially those who are on the left-end
of the political spectrum, actually agree with some of their libertarian
colleagues with respect to American involvement in global affairs,
but for different reasons. For these individuals, who often self-
describe as democratic socialists, America does not necessarily carry
positive influence in global affairs and should allow other countries
to tackle their problems for fear of making those problems worse.
Such individuals might point to the role of international oil
companies in exacerbating the insurgency efforts that transformed
into piracy as evidence of the potentially problematic nature of
international economic cooperation. These individuals are also
usually more critical of using military force than their moderate
liberal colleagues. They are likely to favor solutions that entail
granting foreign aid or empowering West African nations to tackle
the problems without US intervention.
AREAS OF DEBATE
Deploy International Naval Forces
Perhaps the most straightforward policy solution would be to
deploy US naval forces in a coalition of international naval forces to
enforce maritime security rules in the Gulf of Guinea. As of now,
Combined Combined Taskforce 151 of the Combined Maritime Forces (a
Taskforce 151 – multi-lateral organization entailing cooperation between the naval
specialized section of forces of 33 nations) represents the primary international naval
the Combined coalition enforcing maritime law off the coast of Somalia (CMF
Maritime Forces 2020). In this case, Senators might advocate for an expansion of the
dedicated to existing Taskforce or for the creation of a new Taskforce to handle
operationalizing the Gulf of Guinea. While the Senate would ultimately require
counter-piracy cooperation from international actors, architects of a policy solution
initiatives involving naval forces could determine how many US naval officers,
ships, and equipment to include in the coalition as well as outline
clear objectives and tasks of the force. The resolution should also
© HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS 2021 – REDISTRIBUTION OR REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 7HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS
entail detailed descriptions of how the US plans to coordinate this
with other allies.
A strong argument in favor of using international naval
intervention in the Gulf of Guinea is that it seems to have a successful
track record. Since the intervention, the rate of pirate attacks has
decreased dramatically (Reva 2018).
Yet some argue that international naval intervention may not
Yet, if the offer a successful long-term approach toward alleviating the problem
underlying of piracy. For example, one researcher notes that “land-based
problems, problems – such as fuel smuggling and illegal migration” flow into
including land- and foster sea-based issues like piracy (Siebels 2019). The logic of
this argument would be that simply using naval forces to provide safe
based crime, passage for ships and to respond to pirates in their domain is a band-
remain aid rather than a cure. Such intervention might reduce pirate attacks,
unaddressed, but the underlying problems will remain. In addition, nations
piracy might spike deploying naval forces will not want those forces to remain in the
upon departure of Gulf permanently. Yet, if the underlying problems, including land-
naval forces. based crime, remain unaddressed, piracy might spike upon
departure of the naval forces.
Political Perspectives on this Solution
Members of both political parties could support this proposal, as
many Republicans and Democrats believe in the power of leveraging
US military might. It is also especially likely that it could receive
support considering it has produced at least somewhat successful
results in Somalia. Yet leftists and libertarians are likely to view this
proposal with greater skepticism – Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) and
Sen. Paul (R-KY) are two examples of individuals who would
probably prefer other solutions.
Improve Cooperation between West African Nations
Another policy solution is focusing on fostering better
cooperation between West African nations themselves. Although the
nations have worked together, like in adopting the Yaoundé Code of
Conduct, there remains significant room for improvement with
respect to international collaboration. For example, countries need
to do a better job ensuring the consistency of judicial rules and
systems across jurisdictions (Kimani 2009). Because pirates operate
in and out of international and national waters, countries need to
work together to ensure effective enforcement. Pirates shouldn’t be
able to escape punishment simply because they travel out of reach.
At this point, the pirates themselves operate more extensive regional
criminal networks than the networks that the governments have with
each other, which is a fundamental problem (Kamal-Deen 2015).
Improving cooperation could take place through sponsoring
regular summits, enforcing information and intelligence sharing,
and creating regular reports on progress. An international meeting
© HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS 2021 – REDISTRIBUTION OR REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 8HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS
between multiple regional organizations and representatives from
the UN and major Western countries occurred in 2012, in which
delegations worked together to develop sustainable solutions for the
problem (Fiorelli 2014). Support from the US Congress for
institutionalizing regular summits like these could go a long way in
bringing relevant actors to the table.
One might ask why the US needs to have a role in this
cooperation. Currently, West African nations are hesitant to work
together – but a powerful nation like the US could leverage its
influence and potentially use economic incentives to encourage
countries to work together. Mediating this cooperation provides a
way to ensure that it actually happens.
Political Perspectives on this Solution
Conservatives and liberals are generally likely to agree that
fostering regional cooperation is a positive development. More
isolationist conservatives and liberals, however, might accuse the US
of interfering in other countries’ affairs and be more hesitant to adopt
solutions that grant the US significant influence in this arena.
Increase Foreign Aid
A solution that aims to address some of the root causes of the
increase of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea is increasing aid to affected
countries. There are multiple kinds of aid to be considered here.
First, humanitarian aid would focus on alleviating the conditions of
poverty in which many West Africans live. Dedicating this form of
aid could help disincentive people from becoming pirates in the first
place. Economic aid would focus on creating economic opportunities
and supporting fledgling industries in these countries; again, this is
a measure that aims to prevent the need for people to turn to piracy.
Another important form of aid is development, or political, aid. This
The logo for the US aid would focus on improving state capacity in the affected countries.
Agency for It could be designated for building fair judicial systems,
International strengthening law enforcement capabilities, boosting anti-
Development corruption programs, or other various political purposes to help
(USAID), which is improve the governance of the West African nations.
the primary channel The important questions with regards to foreign aid are how
through which the much and what kind of aid. The budget section provides an overview
US provides foreign of how much money the US gives in foreign aid per year right now.
aid The type of aid you select depends on the objective you hope to
USAID Twitter accomplish. In addition, keep in mind that there are many countries
in the Gulf of Guinea. Will you provide the same amount of aid to
each, or will you dedicate different amounts based on certain criteria,
like number of pirate attacks? This is an example of where outside
research will be important.
Arguments for foreign aid focus on the fact that they actually get
at many of the causes of piracy. If the focus is always on enforcement
© HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS 2021 – REDISTRIBUTION OR REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 9HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS
and punishment of the crime, the conditions making it possible in
the first place will continue. Moreover, it is well within the US
interest to strengthen democratic institutions in West Africa and
contribute to political and economic stability. Opponents of foreign
aid have a pretty simple argument: money. They argue that American
taxpayers should not have to foot the bill for other countries’
problems. They might also point out the reality that, in some
circumstances, foreign aid granted to governments does not actually
empower citizens and instead lines the pockets of dictators.
Political Perspectives on this Solution
Liberals are much more likely than conservatives to favor
allocating money toward foreign aid. However, moderate
conservatives might agree with the general principle that foreign aid
can actually save a country money in the long run. This is particularly
true because of the economic losses that the US incurs as a result of
a dangerous and unstable Gulf of Guinea. Thus, especially business-
oriented conservatives might advocate for foreign aid because it can
prove a short-term expense for long-term gains.
Fund the Creation of a Regional Piracy Commission
One special hindrance to regional cooperation is the existence of
two major economic zones – the Economic Community of Central
African States and the Economic Community of West African States
– that include different countries adjacent to the Gulf of Guinea
(Glock 2016). Although adopting the Code of Conduct and other
mechanisms to support cross-country collaboration have been
welcome efforts, one might argue that there exists a need for a
specialized regional commission to focus on piracy. A commission
could update and formalize the 2013 Code of Conduct and have
regular meetings to tackle the issue specifically. The commission
could also help build institutional and judicial capacity across
countries and serve as a way for West African nations to take
ownership of finding solutions to their issues. Such a commission
might even include an international judicial body. The opportunities
to structure this commission to accomplish key goals are endless, and
you should put a lot of thought into the details if you go this route.
The primary obstacle to such a commission is lack of funding. As
the world’s leading global power and richest country, the United
States could step in to provide the necessary funds for such a
commission. The US could also help structure the institution,
The primary providing an opportunity to include core objectives of the US in the
work of the commission.
obstacle to such a
commission is a Political Perspectives on this Solution
lack of funding. Funding a regional commission could be perceived in different
ways. On one hand, it offers an opportunity to allow West African
© HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS 2021 – REDISTRIBUTION OR REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 10HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS
nations the chance to solve their own problems, a solution which
conservatives might favor. However, it would cost the US significant
money, which other conservatives might be concerned about.
Liberals would likely favor the solution, but also advocate for more
hands-on policies in addition to setting up the commission.
Expand Training & Support to National Navies
Another way that the US can straddle the line between
involvement and empowering local actors is providing training and
military resources to the national naval forces of West African
countries. In 2007, the US created the Africa Partnership
Station (APS) to establish a naval presence in the Gulf of Guinea
region for this purpose (Kamal-Deen 2015). Yet the program could
be expanded further to include more US naval ships than the two that
Africa Partnership were initially deployed (Kamal-Deen 2015). US assistance could be
Station – program in the form of enhancing watercraft capabilities to travel further from
initiated by the US to the shores, updating diving programs, or fixing and modernizing
guarantee a naval existing national ships (Myers 2019). Expansion of the program
presence in West could entail adding more West African nations to its reach or
Africa and providing establishing more regular joint training exercises to increase
military training and consistency across countries. Even the experience of working
support to West together in this setting could do wonders for regional cooperation.
African nations Proponents of this solution would argue that it effectively
leverages US resources to strengthen local capacities, which is a win-
win. The US can benefit from a more secure Gulf of Guinea, without
having to be the main enforcers of that security. In addition, China
has developed an interest in expanding influence over countries in
West Africa and this could help serve as a good counterbalance for
those attempts. Opponents might argue that the US loses a military
advantage by sharing technology and assisting other nations’
militaries, even if those nations are not direct military threats to the
country. Opponents might also note that this solution could prove
expensive, depending on how much it is expanded.
Political Perspectives on this Solution
The political perspectives on this issue are less clear. On one
hand, conservatives tend to support using military influence but
might be leery of assisting other nations with their programs.
Liberals might be fine sharing information but concerned that the
response focuses too much on the enforcement and less on root
causes. It is best to investigate how your Senator feels about military
aid.
© HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS 2021 – REDISTRIBUTION OR REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 11HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS
BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS
The budget of USAID in 2020 was $40 billion (USAID 2019). A
more detailed breakdown of the foreign aid budget can be found by
It is essential that visiting the USAID website. The budget of the Department of Defense
you do some level in 2020 was $738 billion (Defense News 2019). You should most
of outside research certainly do extra research to determine the costs and budgetary
in order to obtain implications of different policy options listed in the briefing, from the
cost of an additional naval ship to the budget of the African
accurate figures Partnership Station to the potential costs of a regional commission.
and estimates for It is essential that you do some level of outside research in order to
these items. obtain accurate figures and estimates for these items.
CONCLUSION
In this briefing, you have learned more about the critical problem
of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. You must examine multiple
dimension of the issue, including trade, governance, violence, and
poverty, in order to determine which policy solutions you wish to
pursue. We have offered several, from leveraging military power, to
setting up regional institutions, to dedicating foreign aid.
However, we want to emphasize that these are not the only
policies that you could nor should consider. Outside research will
enable you to flesh out the policies that we mentioned as well as
understand what other options are on the table. It will also allow you
to gauge where your Senator stands on the issues mentioned so that
you can provide an accurate depiction of their views in committee.
Don’t be afraid to mix-and-match policies or reformulate policies
that we have mentioned. The more creative, the better!
The logo for the
Internaitonal
Maritime Bureau, a
subsection of the
GUIDE TO FURTHER RESEARCH
International In conducting outside research, you should consult newspaper
Chamber of articles, academic journals, think tank and NGO reports, and
Commerce, statements made by governments and other relevant actors. In
specializing in particular, we recommend using the International Maritime Bureau
maritime law and as a resource. Finally, don’t forget to read the US Resolution, UNSC
piracy Resolutions, and the Yaoundé Code of Conduct in order to gain a
Steelguru
clearer picture of the objectives of key policymaking bodies.
© HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS 2021 – REDISTRIBUTION OR REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 12HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS
GLOSSARY
Africa Partnership Station – program initiated by the US to
guarantee a naval presence in West Africa and providing military
training and support to West African nations
Combined Taskforce 151 – specialized section of the
Combined Maritime Forces dedicated to operationalizing counter-
piracy initiatives
Gulf of Guinea –body of water off the coast of West Africa,
extending from Senegal at its northernmost point to Angola at its
southernmost point
hawks – individuals who subscribe to foreign policies that
generally favor the use of military force or intervention
Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta
(MEND) – loosely organized federation of armed insurgent groups
that claim to oppose the exploitation of oil resources in the region
and engage in criminal activity to disrupt oil production
piracy – criminal acts such as kidnapping, robbery, and violence
committed on the high seas
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea –
international convention providing the legal framework for
criminalizing piracy
Yaoundé Code of Conduct – framework for cooperation
between West African nations established to facilitate counter-piracy
operations
BIBLIOGRAPHY
“(1) USAID (@USAID) / Twitter.” Twitter. twitter.com,
https://twitter.com/usaid. Accessed 3 June 2020.
“CTF 151: Counter-Piracy.” Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), 17
Sept. 2010. combinedmaritimeforces.com,
https://combinedmaritimeforces.com/ctf-151-counter-piracy/.
“Petro-Piracy in West Africa & Poverty’s Role.” BORGEN, 1 Jan.
2020. www.borgenmagazine.com,
https://www.borgenmagazine.com/petro-piracy-in-west-
africa/.
© HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS 2021 – REDISTRIBUTION OR REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 13HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS
“The Gulf of Guinea Is Now the World’s Worst Piracy Hotspot.” The
Economist. The Economist,
https://www.economist.com/international/2019/06/29/the-
gulf-of-guinea-is-now-the-worlds-worst-piracy-hotspot.
Accessed 2 June 2020.
Denton, Ginger L., and Jonathan R. Harris. “The Impact of Illegal
Fishing on Maritime Piracy: Evidence from West Africa.”
Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, vol. 0, no. 0, Routledge, Apr.
2019, pp. 1–20. Taylor and Francis+NEJM,
doi:10.1080/1057610X.2019.1594660.
Egbejule, Eromo. Maritime Piracy Increases Business Costs in the
Gulf of Guinea. www.aljazeera.com, 27 Dec 2019
https://www.aljazeera.com/ajimpact/maritime-piracy-
increases-business-costs-gulf-guinea-191226201749040.html.
Accessed 2 June 2020.
Fact Sheet: Fiscal Year 2020 Development and Humanitarian
Assistance Budget Request | Press Release | U.S. Agency for
International Development. 11 Mar. 2019. www.usaid.gov,
https://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases/mar-
11-2019-fiscal-year-2020-development-and-humanitarian-
assistance-budget.
Felbab-Brown, Vanda. THE NOT-SO-JOLLY ROGER: DEALING
WITH PIRACY OFF THE COAST OF SOMALIA AND IN THE
GULF OF GUINEA. 2014.
Fiorelli, Matthew. Piracy in Africa: The Case of the Gulf of Guinea.
2014.
Flake, Jeff. Text - S.Res.288 - 113th Congress (2013-2014): A
Resolution Supporting Enhanced Maritime Security in the Gulf
of Guinea and Encouraging Increased Cooperation between the
United States and West and Central African Countries to Fight
Armed Robbery at Sea, Piracy, and Other Maritime Threats. 7
Jan. 2014. 2013/2014, www.congress.gov,
https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-
resolution/288/text.
Glock, Cynthia. How to Fight Growing Piracy in West Africa.
https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/20698/how-to-
fight-growing-piracy-in-west-africa. 14 Dec. 2016. Accessed 3
June 2020.
Hanson, Stephanie. “MEND: The Niger Delta’s Umbrella Militant
Group.” Council on Foreign Relations. www.cfr.org,
© HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS 2021 – REDISTRIBUTION OR REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 14HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS
https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/mend-niger-deltas-
umbrella-militant-group. Accessed 2 June 2020.
Kamal-Deen, Ali. The Anatomy of Gulf of Guinea Piracy. 2015, p.
27.
Kimani, Mary. Tackling Piracy off African Shores | Africa
Renewal. January 2009.
https://www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/january-
2009/tackling-piracy-african-shores. Accessed 3 June 2020.
Kisambe, Samuel. “Chinese Soldiers to Join Anti-Piracy Efforts in
the Gulf of Guinea.” CGTN Africa. africa.cgtn.com,
https://africa.cgtn.com/2016/07/29/chinese-soldiers-to-join-
anti-piracy-efforts-in-the-gulf-of-guinea/. Accessed 1 June
2020.
Myers, Meghann. “Here’s What the Navy Is up to in Africa.” Navy
Times, 8 Aug. 2019. www.navytimes.com,
https://www.navytimes.com/2019/08/07/heres-what-the-
navy-is-up-to-in-africa/.
Newly Issued Report Reveals 87 Incidents of Maritime Piracy in
H1 2017. https://steelguru.com/logistic/newly-issued-report-
reveals-87-incidents-of-maritime-piracy-in-h1-2017/484661.
Accessed 3 June 2020.
Pentagon Finally Gets Its 2020 Budget from Congress.
https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2019/12/19/pentagon
-finally-gets-its-2020-budget-from-congress/. Accessed 3 June
2020.
Reed, Ed. “Piracy on the Rise in Gulf of Guinea - News for the Oil
and Gas Sector.” Energy Voice, 15 Apr. 2020.
www.energyvoice.com,
https://www.energyvoice.com/oilandgas/africa/234982/piracy-
on-the-rise-in-gulf-of-guinea/.
Regional Agreements and Information Sharing. IMO.
http://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Security/WestAfrica/Pages/
Code-of-Conduct-against-illicit-maritime-activity.aspx.
Accessed 3 June 2020.
Reva, Denys. ISSAfrica.org. “Ten Years on, Is Somali Piracy Still a
Threat?” ISS Africa, 7 Nov. 2018. issafrica.org,
https://issafrica.org/iss-today/ten-years-on-is-somali-piracy-
still-a-threat.
© HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS 2021 – REDISTRIBUTION OR REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 15HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS
Rinkel, Serge. Piracy and Maritime Crime in the Gulf of Guinea:
Experience-Based Analyses of the Situation and Policy
Recommendations. p. 23.
Security | 30/05/18. “The Economic Cost of Piracy through 2017.”
SAFETY4SEA, 30 May 2018. safety4sea.com,
https://safety4sea.com/the-economic-cost-of-piracy-through-
2017/.
Siebels, Dirk. “Fighting Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea Needs a Radical
Rethink.” The Conversation. theconversation.com,
http://theconversation.com/fighting-piracy-in-the-gulf-of-
guinea-needs-a-radical-rethink-127032. Accessed 2 June 2020.
Somalia Piracy: How Foreign Powers Are Tackling It - BBC News.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-46454055. Accessed 3
June 2020.
Tran, Mark, and agencies. “Equatorial Guinea Forces Repel Attack
on Presidential Palace.” The Guardian, 17 Feb. 2009.
www.theguardian.com,
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/feb/17/equatorial-
guinea-rebel-attack.
UN. Legal Framework for the Repression of Piracy Under
UNCLOS. 2020.
https://www.un.org/depts/los/piracy/piracy_legal_framework.
htm. Accessed 2 June 2020.
UN. UN Documents for Piracy: Security Council Resolutions.
2010.
https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/un_documents_type/se
curity-council-resolutions/?ctype=Piracy&cbtype=piracy.
Accessed 3 June 2020.
Whitehouse, David. “Gulf of Guinea Crews More Valuable to Pirates
than Unsold Oil.” The Africa Report.Com, 29 Apr. 2020.
www.theafricareport.com,
https://www.theafricareport.com/27031/gulf-of-guinea-crews-
more-valuable-to-pirates-than-unsold-oil/.
Who Will Help Solve Africa′s Piracy Problem in the Gulf of
Guinea? | News | DW | 14.02.2020.
https://www.dw.com/en/who-will-help-solve-africas-piracy-
problem-in-the-gulf-of-guinea/a-52367209. Accessed 3 June
2020.
© HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS 2021 – REDISTRIBUTION OR REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 16You can also read
