Artificial Intelligence and the Combat of Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea

Maritime piracy has evolved significantly in the 21st century, adapting to geopolitical, economic, and technological transformations. Nowhere is this evolution more evident than in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG), which has overtaken the Gulf of Aden as the global epicentre of piracy and armed robbery at sea. Despite a reported decrease in the number of successful pirate attacks in recent years, the region remains persistently insecure due to a combination of transnational organised crime, weak maritime governance, under-resourced navies, jurisdictional complexities, and socio-economic vulnerabilities along the West African coast. Traditional legal and naval responses, though essential, have proved insufficient in preventing sophisticated, adaptive pirate networks that employ tactics such as AIS (Automatic Identification System) spoofing, hostage-taking for ransom, and attacks on offshore installations. In this context, the international maritime community and regional actors should increasingly explore the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), pre-empt threats, coordinate responses, and improve evidence-gathering for legal prosecution. This article examined the role and legal implications of using AI to combat piracy in the GoG, particularly focusing on how AI technologies can support surveillance, threat detection, interdiction, and post-incident investigation. It explored the potential of AI-driven tools such as machine learning models for detecting vessel anomalies, real-time satellite imagery analysis, and predictive analytics for vessel behaviour patterns to fill existing operational and intelligence gaps. Furthermore, the article investigated whether the current legal frameworks are sufficiently equipped to accommodate the deployment of AI in counter-piracy operations. This article adopted a doctrinal legal research methodology complemented by qualitative content analysis. To find that AI technologies offer significant potential to enhance the effectiveness of anti-piracy measures in the Gulf of Guinea. Moreover, the deployment of AI introduces new legal questions concerning the admissibility of AI-generated evidence, compliance with international data protection principles, liability for algorithmic errors, and the need for transparent audit trails. Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Counter Piracy, Gulf of Guinea, Surveillance, Maritime Security DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/149-09 Publication date: October 28th 2025