Garowe, Somalia – Authorities in Somalia’s Puntland State have released 26 Yemeni fishermen who had been detained for nearly a month for entering Somali territorial waters without proper permits. The move has been widely praised as a gesture of regional cooperation and humanitarian goodwill.
The fishermen, who were aboard the vessel Maymoon-1, had been held since May 14, 2025. Their release followed intensive diplomatic negotiations led by the Yemeni government through its Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Fisheries, in coordination with Hadramaut local officials and the Yemeni Embassy in Mogadishu.
Officials from both nations welcomed the development, emphasizing the importance of maritime cooperation and respect for regional laws.