Recent Somali Piracy Incidents in the Indian Ocean Raise Concerns

In the Indian Ocean, a merchant vessel was boarded by armed individuals, as reported by the UK Maritime Trade Operations Office (UKMTO). The UKMTO received a report that five to six unauthorized armed people had boarded the ship, and the captain reported that the crew had been assembled in the citadel, a type of security room on board the ship. This incident follows a series of hijackings off the coast of Somalia and a previous hijacking of a bulk carrier in the same area.

The Maltese-flagged bulk carrier MV Ruen was hijacked on December 14 in the Indian Ocean and is currently detained between Eyl and Somalia’s Xaafun Peninsula. The crew was previously evacuated for medical attention, and the welfare of the remaining crew members is a concern. The motives and demands of the kidnappers are currently unknown, but the incidents are reminiscent of tactics used by Somali pirates over a decade ago.

These recent incidents are concerning, especially given the maritime security situation in the Red Sea, where the Houthis have carried out more than two dozen attacks on commercial vessels since November. If the latest incident is confirmed to be Somali piracy, it would be the first successful hijacking of a merchant ship by Somali pirates since 2017.

Source .