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The Third United Nations Law of the Sea Treaty and the Piracy Question - The Case of the East African Coast
Abstract
The international crime of piracy was believed to have largely disappeared in
modern times, or at least to have reduced to levels that would not demand international attention. However, contrary to that belief, for the past several years piracy has become endemic, particularly off the coast of Somalia and the East African coast in general. Somalia has not had a stable government since 1991, and this has partly contributed to the piracy problem off the
East African coast. The Law of the Sea defi nes piracy in various ways and has been used to tackle the problem in East Africa. The paper focuses on the evolution of piracy, its defi nition as provided by the Law of the Sea, the implications of piracy on the coast, and fi nally solutions to the problem
modern times, or at least to have reduced to levels that would not demand international attention. However, contrary to that belief, for the past several years piracy has become endemic, particularly off the coast of Somalia and the East African coast in general. Somalia has not had a stable government since 1991, and this has partly contributed to the piracy problem off the
East African coast. The Law of the Sea defi nes piracy in various ways and has been used to tackle the problem in East Africa. The paper focuses on the evolution of piracy, its defi nition as provided by the Law of the Sea, the implications of piracy on the coast, and fi nally solutions to the problem
