Legal measures to combat piracy and armed robbery in the Horn of Africa and in Southeast Asia: A comparison

Abstract

Somalia and Southeast Asia have, at different times, been considered "hotspots" for piracy and armed robbery against ships. Some scholars have argued that comparisons between the two regions are pointless due to the different geopolitical factors that affect the respective regions and vastly different tactics used by Somali pirates and Southeast Asian pirates. Further, the differences in geopolitical considerations and tactics have meant that the legal measures used to respond to attacks in these regions have also greatly differed. The purpose of this article is to critically examine and evaluate the legal measures taken to facilitate the arrest, prosecution and punishment of pirates in Somalia and Southeast Asia. It concludes that while the legal measures employed by the relevant stakeholders differ in each region, valuable lessons can be learned on how States, regional organizations and international organizations can strengthen legal frameworks for the effective arrest and prosecution of perpetrators of piracy and armed robbery. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.