HOME | DD

Description

Date: January 1st, 2027
Author: The Mediterranean

(The Mediterranean) - After three years of steady decline, activities of endemic piracy and illicit human trafficking began to resurge the last year. Published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), studies stated that cases of corsair sightings and activities rose exponentially last year, with the exact estimate raising from 47 confirmed reports during 2025 to 211 since 2026.

The following transcript is a recorded monologue by Julia Hoffmann, chief contributor of The Mediterranean. The following subject presides over the matter concerning the resurgent activities by the corsairs and the implications presented by the UNODC studies.

<--- Transcript --->

Hoffmann: “In the cold respites of Vienna, Austria, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime published an annual study concerning the pirate crisis crippling the Mediterranean Sea. When Associate Press’s Fatima Susianto asked summary of its results, Johan Nygaardsvold answered this on the matter. [00:15]

Nygaardsvold: “In 2025, corsair activities are relatively low thanks to Operation Maria. Back then, there were only 47 cases, and most of them were illegal fishing. However, last year experienced a sudden escalation. To understand how distressing it is, the estimate of cases went from less than 50 confirmed cases to 211. [00:39]

Hoffmann: “According to the study, the Mediterranean Sea experienced what they noted as “a sudden resurgence of pirate activities” since 2026. Half of the 217 confirmed cases are related to illegal fishmongering, while the other half comprises ransoming, smuggling, human trafficking, and even the first organized hijacking since 2025. [01:05]

Hoffmann: “It also suggests that despite the brief success of EU’s Operation Maria, it failed to crackdown the illicit organizations involved in the pirate crisis, thus allowing themselves to reorganize into a more sophisticated state. [01:21]

Nygaardsvold: “If we were to evaluate how organized the pirates are now, then I have to say they’re terrifyingly sophisticated. Back then, most of the pirates used exposed civilian communications and were mostly disorganized, which led to the early success of the EU’s joint fleet. But now, their current methods made Operiaton Maria less effective in their mission. [01:42]

Susianto: “Does Martin Geoff and his Free State of Sabha have any involvement with their current state? [01:51]

Nygaardsvold: “Most of their equipment derives from Africa and the Middle East, but Sabha serves as their logistical hub, so I have to assess that they have a central role in the resurgence. [02:07]

Hoffmann: “Sabha’s involvement with the Neo-Barbary Crisis stretches from its inception as a self-proclaimed country, being the first to establish a commercial presence for the pirates residing across the Gulf of Sirte and directly involved in key incidents. [02:39]

<--- End Transcript --->

Description

Date: January 1st, 2027
Author: The Mediterranean

(The Mediterranean) - After three years of steady decline, activities of endemic piracy and illicit human trafficking began to resurge the last year. Published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), studies stated that cases of corsair sightings and activities rose exponentially last year, with the exact estimate raising from 47 confirmed reports during 2025 to 211 since 2026.

The following transcript is a recorded monologue by Julia Hoffmann, chief contributor of The Mediterranean. The following subject presides over the matter concerning the resurgent activities by the corsairs and the implications presented by the UNODC studies.

<--- Transcript --->

Hoffmann: “In the cold respites of Vienna, Austria, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime published an annual study concerning the pirate crisis crippling the Mediterranean Sea. When Associate Press’s Fatima Susianto asked summary of its results, Johan Nygaardsvold answered this on the matter. [00:15]

Nygaardsvold: “In 2025, corsair activities are relatively low thanks to Operation Maria. Back then, there were only 47 cases, and most of them were illegal fishing. However, last year experienced a sudden escalation. To understand how distressing it is, the estimate of cases went from less than 50 confirmed cases to 211. [00:39]

Hoffmann: “According to the study, the Mediterranean Sea experienced what they noted as “a sudden resurgence of pirate activities” since 2026. Half of the 217 confirmed cases are related to illegal fishmongering, while the other half comprises ransoming, smuggling, human trafficking, and even the first organized hijacking since 2025. [01:05]

Hoffmann: “It also suggests that despite the brief success of EU’s Operation Maria, it failed to crackdown the illicit organizations involved in the pirate crisis, thus allowing themselves to reorganize into a more sophisticated state. [01:21]

Nygaardsvold: “If we were to evaluate how organized the pirates are now, then I have to say they’re terrifyingly sophisticated. Back then, most of the pirates used exposed civilian communications and were mostly disorganized, which led to the early success of the EU’s joint fleet. But now, their current methods made Operiaton Maria less effective in their mission. [01:42]

Susianto: “Does Martin Geoff and his Free State of Sabha have any involvement with their current state? [01:51]

Nygaardsvold: “Most of their equipment derives from Africa and the Middle East, but Sabha serves as their logistical hub, so I have to assess that they have a central role in the resurgence. [02:07]

Hoffmann: “Sabha’s involvement with the Neo-Barbary Crisis stretches from its inception as a self-proclaimed country, being the first to establish a commercial presence for the pirates residing across the Gulf of Sirte and directly involved in key incidents. [02:39]

<--- End Transcript --->