About The Bill

Introduction

On November 10, 2025, the House of the People of the Federal Parliament of Somalia unanimously approved the revised Anti-Piracy and Anti-Kidnapping Law (Law No. 36 originally enacted on April 30, 1975). In a historic session chaired by Second Deputy Speaker H.E. Hon. Abdullahi Omar Abshirow, 140 Members of Parliament voted in favor of amendments aimed at strengthening Somalia’s legal framework to combat maritime crimes and enforce sovereignty over its territorial waters. The bill was presented by Hon. Mohamed Abdullahi Burale Guled, member of the Judiciary, Religious Sites, and Religious Affairs Committee.

Amended Articles

The key amended articles in the revised Anti-Piracy and Anti-Kidnapping Law (Law No. 36 of April 30, 1975) include the following:

1. Article 2 (Objectives): Subdivided into two clear subsections, aligning the law with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982) and distinguishing between piracy in international waters and kidnappings on Somali land and airspace.

2. Article 3 (Definitions): Corrected and refined to synchronize terminology with international maritime law, including removing ambiguous paragraphs and adding definitions for complicity and facilitation of piracy.

3. Articles 4 and 5 (Scope and Crimes): Enhanced to cover a wider range of piracy and kidnapping offenses, including foreign nationals illegally fishing in Somali waters with corresponding penalties.

4. Penalty Provisions: Adjusted to impose imprisonment terms of 5-20 years for piracy, 10-20 years for hostage-taking, and 5-10 years for illegal fishing by foreign nationals, plus provisions for asset confiscation.

5. Procedural Articles: Updated to clarify investigation, prosecution, and rights of the accused under Somalia’s criminal procedure code.

The Judiciary, Religious Sites, and Religious Affairs Committee reflected that these amendments were necessary to modernize the 1975 law, strengthen maritime security, and comply with international standards. They emphasized that the revised law would enhance Somalia's capacity to prosecute maritime crimes and protect its marine resources effectively.

The Committee officially submitted the reviewed bill and its comprehensive report to the Speaker of the House of the People, recommending its immediate adoption. This occurred at the 13th session of the 7th plenary sitting of the House, chaired by Second Deputy Speaker H.E. Hon. Abdullahi Omar Abshirow, with 140 MPs present who unanimously passed the revision.

Session Context

During the 13th session of the 7th plenary sitting of the House of the People, chaired by H.E. Hon. Abdullahi Omar Abshirow, 140 out of 275 MPs were present to deliberate. The unanimous approval reflected a rare consensus on this critical issue. The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs expressed gratitude for the unified support and underscored the law’s importance in restoring Somalia’s judicial authority over maritime crimes.

This legislative milestone marked a key step in Somalia's ongoing efforts to defend its territorial waters, combat criminal networks, and protect its vital maritime trade routes. The bill now awaits further consideration by the Upper House and presidential assent before full enactment.