**GAO-10-856**                      Published: Sep 24, 2010. Publicly Released: Sep 29, 2010.                  

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## Highlights

Somali pirates operating off the Horn of Africa have attacked more than 450 ships and taken nearly 2,400 hostages since 2007. A small number of U.S.-flagged vessels and ships have been among those affected. As Somalia lacks a functioning government and is unable to repress piracy in its waters, the National Security Council (NSC) developed the interagency Countering Piracy off the Horn of Africa: Partnership and Action Plan (Action Plan) in December 2008 to prevent, disrupt, and prosecute piracy off the Horn of Africa in collaboration with international and industry partners. GAO was asked to evaluate the extent to which U.S. agencies (1) have implemented the plan, and any challenges they face in doing so, and (2) have collaborated with partners in counterpiracy efforts. GAO examined counterpiracy plans, activities, collaborative practices, and data, and interviewed industry and international partners and officials at U.S. agencies and the Combined Maritime Forces in Bahrain.

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## Topics

Homeland Security

Federal intelligence agenciesHijackingInteragency relationsInternational agreementsInternational cooperationInternational organizationsInternational relationsMaritime securityMilitary forcesMilitary intelligenceMilitary vesselsNational defense operationsSecurity threatsShipsStability operationsStrategic planningTransportation securityRisk managementPartnershipsProgram implementationSecurity operations

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##### Countering Piracy off the Horn of Africa

Transcript

Blog PostMaritime Piracy Threatens Some Parts of African CoastFriday, September 19, 2014  Arghh, matey! September 19 may be International Talk Like a Pirate Day, but modern pirates continue...