But how did Somali piracy emerge, and how do these modern-day sea bandits operate? Let’s take an in-depth look at the insane and dangerous world of Somali pirates —their history, lifestyle, methods, and the impact they’ve had on global trade. Piracy off the coast of Somalia has been a threat to international shipping since the beginning of the Somali Civil War in the early 1990s. [1] The Gulf of Aden is a nightmare for ships as they are attacked by pirates every now and then. The pirates have formed different groups to attack the ships. Piracy off the coast of Somalia is back in the headlines after European Union naval forces seized an Iranian fishing vessel last month that Somali pirates used to hijack a Malta-flagged. Pirates off the coast of Somalia have successfully hijacked a commercial vessel for the first time in 18 months, raising fears of a resurgence in armed attacks. Somali pirates are back on the attack, with piracy around the Horn of Africa rising sharply in recent months and adding to concerns for shipping vessels, government forces and private security. Overstretched naval deployments and a focus on Red Sea security have left parts of the Western Indian Ocean vulnerable. Somali pirate activity in early November 2025 represents the most serious cluster of incidents in the Western Indian Ocean since the mid-2024 downturn. This is a List of Somali pirates, sea robbers, corsairs, privateers, Red Sea and ocean pirates and others involved in piracy off the coast of Somalia. This list includes both captains and prominent crew members. Over a decade after fading from public consciousness, Somali piracy is making a comeback. Once the scourge of the maritime community, Somali mariners are responsible for at least 17 piracy-related incidents in either Somali waters or the Gulf of Aden between January-May of this year. Somali pirates are profiting from the war in Iran as commercial ships, bypassing conflict routes through lengthy detours around Africa, sail into their strike zone.