MOGADISHU \u2014 The Federal Government of Somalia has strongly condemned the resurgence of piracy off the coast of Puntland, warning that it will raise the issue at the United Nations Security Council and calling for strengthened international cooperation to combat the growing threat.<\/p>\n
In a statement issued on September 6<\/a>, the government said that since April 2026, there have been attacks and hijackings of commercial vessels, with some incidents extending into the Gulf of Aden. Somali forces are taking action against piracy networks operating both at sea and on land<\/a>.<\/p>\n The government cited the August 29 operation that freed the hijacked cargo vessel MV Lutuf as the latest example of these efforts<\/a>, saying further operations would follow. The vessel, a Cameroon-flagged cargo ship, was hijacked by armed pirates off Puntland\u2019s coast on August 17, according to the Associated Press.<\/p>\n Somalia maintains that the rescue was carried out under the defence cooperation agreement with Turkey, which aims at strengthening maritime security, protecting Somalia\u2019s coastline, and combating piracy. The Somali Defence Ministry claimed the operation resulted in the killing of four suspected pirates and the arrest of 14 others.<\/p>\n Dispute Over Rescue Operation<\/p>\n However, Puntland authorities have disputed the federal government\u2019s account of the rescue, accusing Mogadishu of paying a ransom to secure the vessel\u2019s release. Pirates had demanded a ransom of approximately $2 million for the release of the ship and its crew<\/a>, according to unconfirmed reports.<\/p>\n Puntland has condemned airstrikes off its coast<\/a>, stating that it possesses specific intelligence indicating that \u201cforces beyond Puntland\u201d are involved in the new piracy operations, and that there are political and financial officials providing support to these groups.<\/p>\n The Turkish government has officially stated that it has no information regarding airstrikes off the Puntland coast<\/a> that killed nine people, amid growing controversy over attacks that reportedly targeted a mix of fishermen and individuals suspected of being part of Somali pirate networks.<\/p>\n Puntland has emphasized the critical role of collaboration with regional partners in addressing piracy threats<\/a>, but strongly opposed the manner in which some recent operations have been conducted.<\/p>\n Puntland warned that ransom payment to pirates was a serious mistake and a threat to collective efforts to combat piracy, arguing that they create financial incentives for pirates to continue hijacking vessels and complicate efforts to secure the release of other ships still held by pirates.<\/p>\n International Framework and Legal Basis<\/p>\n The Somali government said international partners are welcome to support Somali maritime forces through a national security framework, in coordination with federal member states. The government linked piracy to broader maritime security concerns, including illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, which it said violated Somalia\u2019s sovereign rights over its marine resources under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).<\/p>\n Article 100 of UNCLOS calls on states to cooperate in the repression of piracy, providing a legal basis for international cooperation against piracy on the high seas. Somalia also pointed to the Djibouti Code of Conduct and its Jeddah Amendment, regional mechanisms aimed at strengthening cooperation against piracy, armed robbery at sea and other maritime crimes.<\/p>\n The International Maritime Organization has issued an urgent appeal for the release of seafarers held hostage<\/a>, warning that their humanitarian situation is deteriorating rapidly due to severe shortages of food and water and mounting security threats. The IMO reported that six merchant vessels and more than 90 seafarers are now being held captive in the region.<\/p>\n The current piracy surge recalls the 2008-2011 crisis<\/a>, which cost the global economy an estimated $18 billion annually at its peak. Naval analysts attribute the resurgence to the shift in international naval resources toward the Red Sea, creating a security vacuum that pirate groups are exploiting.<\/p>\n