Where did somali pirates first started?

Somali pirates first emerged off the coast of Somalia in the late 1990s, particularly in the Puntland region. The rise of piracy was largely attributed to the collapse of the Somali government and the subsequent lawlessness, which allowed local fishermen to turn to piracy as a means of income. They initially targeted foreign fishing vessels operating illegally in Somali waters, but their activities soon expanded to include hijacking commercial ships and demanding ransoms. The piracy crisis peaked in the mid-2000s, drawing international attention and naval responses.