Oyugi, Samuel Otieno2026-02-062026-02-062026-10https://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/32295A project report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Arts in international relations and diplomacy in the School of Law, Arts and Social Sciences of Kenyatta University, October 2025 Supervisor. Dr. Evans o. OnyangoThis study assesses the European Union's (EU) collective security responses to maritime piracy off the Somali coastline (3,333 km long, along the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean) from 2008-2023. Despite reduced incidents, root causes like poverty, governance failures, and illegal fishing persist. Guided by Critical Security Studies (CSS) and Security Dilemma Theory, the objectives are: (1) explore EU strategies for countering piracy root causes; (2) analyze EU contributions to counter-piracy initiatives; (3) examine EU influence on international actors' counter-piracy efforts. A mixed-methods design collected data from Somali fishermen, EU-led naval forces, policymakers, and regional organizations via questionnaires, KIIs, stratified random, and purposive sampling. Triangulation addressed data limitations. Findings show EU's Operation Atalanta and EU Capacity Building Mission in Somalia (EUCAP Somalia) reduced piracy through naval patrols, training, and economic aid, but challenges like corruption remain. Recommendations include enhanced community engagement, anticorruption oversight, and governance reforms for sustainable stability.