GALMUDUG — Galmudug’s Ministry of Ports and Maritime Transport, working with Somali maritime defence and coast guard forces, has detained a foreign vessel accused of operating unlawfully in its waters after authorities discovered its tracking system had been switched off.

The vessel was intercepted during a maritime surveillance and security operation off the Galmudug coast. Officials said its Automatic Identification System (AIS), which transmits a vessel’s identity, location and movement, had been turned off, making it more difficult to track. Seven foreign nationals were on board, all of whom are now being investigated by relevant authorities.

Maritime security agencies are examining the vessel’s identity, its country of registration, the purpose of its voyage and the cargo it was carrying, as well as the reason the AIS system was switched off. The investigation is ongoing, and the Ministry has said it will share further information with the public and media once authorities formally confirm additional details.

Galmudug’s Maritime Security Push

The detention is part of a broader effort by Galmudug to strengthen maritime security along its coastline. The Ministry of Ports and Maritime Transport and maritime security agencies have been conducting regular patrols in recent days to prevent piracy and illegal maritime operations.

As reported in FTL Somalia’s coverage of previous detentions, Galmudug authorities have previously detained foreign fishermen caught operating illegally in its waters. In November 2022, security forces in Galmudug caught 20 foreign fishermen, 14 Iranians and 6 Pakistanis, fishing without official permission.

The piracy resurgence has been driven in part by the diversion of international naval assets toward the Red Sea, where Houthi attacks have drawn attention and resources away from the Gulf of Aden and the Somali coast. As detailed in FTL Somalia’s coverage of the piracy crisis, pirates have converted hijacked vessels into “motherships” to launch attacks further into the Indian Ocean, a tactic reminiscent of the 2008-2011 piracy crisis.

Recent Piracy Incidents

The detention comes amid a sharp increase in piracy activity off Somalia’s coast. As reported in FTL Somalia’s coverage of the Honour 25 killings, five crew members were killed on board the hijacked oil tanker MT Honour 25 before Puntland security forces rescued the vessel in late September 2026. The deaths appeared to be the first at the hands of Somali pirates in more than a decade.

At least 15 attacks have been reported off Somalia since April 2026, according to officials. The International Maritime Organization has warned that more than 90 seafarers are being held hostage across multiple vessels, with their humanitarian situation deteriorating rapidly due to severe shortages of food and water and daily threats of violence. As detailed in FTL Somalia’s coverage of the IMO warning, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

Illegal Fishing and the AIS Challenge

The switching off of AIS is a common tactic used by vessels engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Galmudug’s waters have been a particular focus of foreign fishing vessels, many from Yemen and Iran, that fish illegally and drain resources local communities depend on.

As detailed in FTL Somalia’s coverage of illegal fishing, the Federal Government has previously stated it needs help from international anti-piracy forces to capture boats used for illegal fishing along its shores. The Fisheries Minister warned that Somali pirates are likely to resume their activities because of the increase in illegal fishing.

The Federal Government of Somalia announced in September 2026 that it would intensify operations against piracy networks both on land and at sea. As reported in FTL Somalia’s coverage of the government’s response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said cooperation in maritime security must be coordinated between the federal government and member states within a “unified and accountable national security framework.”

Critical Note

The detention of a foreign vessel with its AIS switched off highlights both the growing capacity of Galmudug’s maritime authorities and the persistent challenge of monitoring Somalia’s vast territorial waters. Switching off AIS is a deliberate act of concealment, and the decision to do so suggests the vessel had something to hide, whether illegal fishing, smuggling, or other prohibited activity. The fact that seven foreign nationals were on board raises further questions about the nature of the operation.

Galmudug has taken meaningful steps to assert control over its maritime domain, including regular patrols and cooperation with federal maritime forces. But the region faces significant resource constraints. With limited patrol boats and surveillance equipment, Galmudug cannot fully monitor its coastline or effectively deter all illegal activity. A more permanent and better-resourced maritime security architecture is needed.

The broader context is also relevant. The resurgence of piracy off Somalia’s coast has been enabled by the international community’s focus on the Red Sea, creating a security vacuum that criminal networks have exploited. The recent killings on the Honour 25, the first in more than a decade, should serve as a wake-up call. Galmudug’s enforcement efforts are necessary, but they cannot substitute for a coordinated international response. Until the international community recommits to maritime security in the western Indian Ocean, incidents like this will continue, and the line between illegal fishing and piracy will remain dangerously thin.

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