MOGADISHU — Maritime authorities have issued urgent warnings about an escalating piracy threat along Somalia’s coastline following the seizure of two vessels in less than a week, marking a troubling resurgence of maritime crime in the Indian Ocean.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) raised the threat level to “substantial” after reporting that unauthorized individuals boarded a cargo vessel approximately six nautical miles northeast of Garacad, a coastal town in Somalia’s Puntland region, and redirected it into Somali territorial waters.
Cargo Vessel Hijacked Near Garacad
The cargo vessel, identified as the Sward flying the flag of St. Kitts and Nevis, was carrying cement from Suez, Egypt, to the Kenyan port city of Mombasa. According to maritime security firms, the ship’s 15-member crew includes two Indian nationals and 13 Syrians. An operations officer from the Puntland Maritime Police Force, speaking on condition of anonymity, reported that nine pirates boarded and assumed command of the vessel.
“The ship is currently under the control of armed men, and we are monitoring the situation,” the officer stated.
Oil Tanker Honour 25 Captured
The cargo vessel seizure follows the hijacking of an oil tanker, Honour 25, which was captured on April 22 approximately 30 nautical miles off the Somali coast. Security officials reported that six gunmen took control of the vessel, which was carrying 18,500 barrels of oil destined for the Somali capital, Mogadishu.
According to shipping data, the hijacked tanker had departed from Berbera port in Somaliland on February 20 and was heading toward Mogadishu when it was intercepted. Under pirate control, the Honour 25 has anchored near the Somali coastline between the fishing towns of Xaafun and Bander Beyla.
The crew of the oil tanker consists of 17 members: 10 Pakistanis, four Indonesians, one Indian, one Sri Lankan, and one from Myanmar. Sources indicate that five additional armed individuals have since boarded the tanker.
Broader Resurgence of Piracy
These hijackings represent the most recent incidents in what maritime security analysts describe as a concerning resurgence of piracy off the Horn of Africa. In late March 2026, international naval forces were closely monitoring an Iranian-flagged dhow, Al Waseemi 786, which was hijacked approximately 400 nautical miles east of Mogadishu. The Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa (MSCHOA) and the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) have formally classified the situation as a “probable piracy event,” with security officials warning that the captured dhow was highly likely being converted into a “mothership” — a mobile forward operating base used by pirates to launch further deep-water attacks on unsuspecting commercial ships transiting the Indian Ocean.
“Due to the increased threat of possible Pirate Action Group (PAG) activity, vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity,” the UKMTO stated.
In November 2025, a Spanish frigate from Operation Atalanta successfully rescued the crew of a Malta-flagged oil tanker, Hellas Aphrodite, after Somali pirates attempted to hijack the vessel roughly 1,000 kilometers off Somalia’s coast. The crew of 24 took refuge in the ship’s fortified citadel while distress signals were sent out, and responding swiftly, the Spanish frigate ESPS Victoria secured the vessel and confirmed that all crew members were unharmed.
Just days earlier, an attempted attack occurred on the chemical tanker Stolt Sagaland, approximately 534 kilometers east of Mogadishu, when four armed men in a small skiff opened fire on the vessel. Though the crew managed to evade boarding by accelerating and maneuvering away, the incident highlighted the persistent volatility in the waters off Somalia’s coastline after nearly two years of relative calm.
Factors Driving the Resurgence
Experts attribute the uptick in piracy to several factors, including a period of heightened regional tension that has diverted international naval assets to the Red Sea to counter threats posed by Houthi rebels in Yemen, leaving parts of the Indian Ocean more vulnerable. Additionally, economic hardship in coastal areas and weak maritime enforcement have created conditions conducive to pirate activity.
As noted following the Al Waseemi 786 hijacking, while no information has yet been released regarding the condition or number of captive crew members aboard, the Indian Navy and EUNAVFOR’s Operation Atalanta have rapidly increased aerial and surface surveillance in the surrounding area. In recent weeks, coordinated naval forces have successfully intercepted several pirate-occupied skiffs, though this latest deep-water seizure demonstrates that these armed groups maintain the logistical capability to strike far beyond the immediate coastline.
Puntland’s Maritime Security Role
The Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) serves as the primary maritime security agency in the region, though it faces significant capacity constraints in patrolling the vast coastline. Since the PMPF’s establishment in 2010, the United Arab Emirates has provided approximately $50 million annually for training, equipment, and salaries. The Puntland Maritime Police Force will continue to receive the annual support, which is critical for maintaining its counter-piracy and maritime security operations off the coast of Somalia.
The European Union Naval Force has previously emphasized the critical role of collaboration with regional partners, such as the Puntland Maritime Police Force, in addressing piracy threats. Following the release of the Yemeni-flagged fishing vessel Saytuun-2, which had been seized by suspected Somali pirates, EUNAVFOR highlighted that such partnerships are essential for enhancing maritime security, conducting effective patrols, and ensuring the safety of vessels and their crews in high-risk areas.
US Policy Shift and Military Authorization
The resurgence of piracy has prompted a major policy shift from the United States. In January 2026, President Donald Trump declared that Somali pirates attempting to hijack vessels will now face the “ultimate penalty,” announcing that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has received “full authorization” to deploy U.S. military forces against pirate groups, including the use of drone strike tactics previously reserved for high-value terror targets.
Trump’s declaration came amid a resurgent piracy threat off the Horn of Africa and coincided with an active hostage situation involving a China-flagged fishing vessel, which pirates seized on December 31 near Bander Beyla.
International Naval Presence and Coordination
In response to the escalating threat, the European Union Naval Force Operation Atalanta has increased aerial and surface surveillance in the area. In September 2025, EU NAVFOR conducted joint maritime exercises with the Somali Police Coast Guard focused on Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) operations, designed to strengthen Somalia’s capacity to combat illegal activities at sea.
Based in Nairobi, Kenya, and operating under the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), Operation Atalanta remains the EU’s flagship maritime security mission in the region, tasked with deterring piracy and ensuring the safe passage of vessels in one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors.
Somalia-Yemen Maritime Security Cooperation
The Federal Government has been actively strengthening regional maritime security partnerships. In October 2025, Somalia’s Ambassador to Yemen met with Yemen’s Defense Minister in Aden to renew security collaboration, focusing on combating illegal migration routes and coordinated efforts against terrorism. Ambassador Mohamed expressed Somalia’s readiness to deepen intelligence sharing and operational coordination with Yemeni authorities.
In December 2025, Somalia’s Defense Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi convened a strategic meeting in Cairo with his Yemeni counterpart, Lieutenant General Mohsen Mohammed Ahmed Al-Daari, to discuss enhancing defense collaboration and protecting the vital maritime passages between the two nations. At the core of the deliberations was the pressing requirement to reinforce maritime security in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, with both officials examining collaborative approaches to combat the illegal transfer of weapons which terrorist organizations utilize to undermine regional stability.
Impact of Middle East Conflict on Maritime Security
The resurgence of piracy comes as maritime routes already face severe disruptions due to the ongoing conflict between the United States and Israel against Iran, which has led to the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz. The seizure of a tanker destined for Mogadishu is likely to heighten concerns in the capital, where fuel prices have already tripled since the beginning of the conflict.
Concerns of a Broader Resurgence
Maritime security analysts warn that the recent incidents could signal a broader resurgence of piracy off the Horn of Africa, potentially disrupting one of the world’s most vital shipping lanes linking Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. The Gulf of Aden, which borders Somalia’s northern coast, connects the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal — a route through which approximately 12 percent of global maritime trade passes.
Any sustained increase in piracy could force shipping companies to reroute vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, adding significant time and fuel costs. The World Bank has previously estimated that between 2005 and 2012, pirates off the Horn of Africa collected between $339 million and $413 million by holding crew members hostage and demanding ransom payments.
Response from Somali Authorities
Neither Somali federal authorities nor the European Naval Force has issued a formal statement regarding the latest cargo vessel hijacking. Officials in Puntland have not provided public comment on the incident.
The UKMTO has advised vessels transiting the area to exercise extreme caution and to report any suspicious activity while investigations continue. Shipping companies operating in the region have been strongly advised to strictly adhere to Best Management Practices (BMP5) and report any suspicious activity immediately to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
Without sustained international naval presence and continued investment in regional maritime security capacity, the conditions that allowed piracy to flourish in the late 2000s could re-emerge, threatening global shipping and regional economic stability. For now, the coastal waters off Puntland remain under close watch as authorities work to contain what appears to be a renewed wave of maritime crime.
