Patrick Kubasu

ABSTRACT

In the post-Cold War Period, the conflicts mutated and became more intrastate and new security threats emerged. The failures of the UN to mitigate contemporary conflicts and security threats, stimulated the formation of regional organization to among others, counter traditional and contemporary transnational security threats. However, maritime security efforts have been few and far between. Compared to land and air, the maritime sector remains the most poorly governed space on earth. Majority of the security initiatives especially in Africa are either land based or mainly foreign driven. This has been attributed to insufficient resources and sea blindness, which relegates the maritime sector. Yet the maritime sector is very central to human life. 90% of global trade is transported through the sea. Besides, the sea provides food, cleans air, used for recreation, sports and tourism among others. All these are threatened by maritime terrorism. The Abu Sayyaf Group in the Southeast Asia, the al-Qaeda, the ISIL, the al-Shabaab in Somalia and the Ansar al-Sunna of Mozambique among other terrorist organizations operate at sea. They attack vessels and other targets from and at sea, get terror funding from illicit activities at sea, use the sea for logistics and as a hiding place. Regional states from EU, NATO, Malacca Strait, Sulu Celebes Seas and the Eastern African Region have instituted regional mechanisms to counter these transnational maritime threats. In Eastern Africa maritime terrorism and countering efforts by regional organizations are not well known due to few research. The ongoing study aims to fill this knowledge gap. The topic of study is, ‘An analysis of regional organizations’ approaches in combating maritime terrorism.’ The objectives of the study are; to analyze the use of legal approaches in combating maritime terrorism in Eastern Africa; to examine the use of naval patrols approach in combating maritime terrorism in Eastern Africa; to investigate the use of capacity building approaches in combating maritime terrorism in Eastern Africa; to evaluate the use of intelligence sharing approach in combating maritime terrorism in Eastern Africa; and to assess the use of soft approaches in combating maritime terrorism in Eastern Africa. This qualitative study employs phenomenology study design. Key informants working or who have worked in the regional organizations, seafarers, and law enforcement agencies in Eastern Africa are the respondents. To collect primary data, the study targets to interview 120 key informants using a Key Informants Interview Guide. Secondary data is also being collected by reviewing relevant literature. Data Collecting and analysis, using Nvivo qualitative data analysis software, is being conducted simultaneously. The study findings will be useful to academics by filling the knowledge gap and to policy makers and practitioners by helping them to better understand the approaches and how best they can be implemented.