In response to a recent attempted pirate hijacking in the Gulf of Aden, Somalia’s maritime police force has significantly heightened patrols in the Red Sea. The failed hijacking, which targeted an Israeli-linked tanker off the coast of Yemen, has raised fears of a potential resurgence in pirate activities, prompting increased security measures.
Abdullahi Mohamed Ahmed, the commander of the maritime force in the semiautonomous region of Puntland, revealed that patrols in the affected waters have been doubled and are now operating on a 24-hour rotation to effectively deter pirate activities. He emphasized the challenges faced by the maritime force, stating, “Here now we have many challenges. We had initially dealt with the pirates and stopped their activities, but recently on top of al-Shabab and ISIS, we have had to look out for them again.”
The attempted hijacking targeted the Liberian-flagged Central Park, managed by Zodiac Maritime, in the Gulf of Aden. The armed attackers, identified as Somali nationals, seized the vessel but surrendered after a pursuit by the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Mason. The incident occurred amidst heightened tensions in the region due to the Israel-Hamas war, with Yemeni Houthi militants conducting attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf of Aden.
While recent attacks in the region were attributed to Houthi militants, the involvement of Somali nationals in the attempted hijacking marks a concerning development. The Somali government has appealed for international support to prevent a resurgence of piracy in the Horn of Africa. Commander Mohamed expressed the challenges faced by Puntland State in addressing the security situation, highlighting the lack of assistance from entities such as the African Union Mission in Somalia and the European Union.
Piracy off the coast of Somalia had reached its peak in 2011, with over 160 recorded attacks. The subsequent decline in incidents was attributed to the presence of American and allied navies in international waters. The recent attempt has underscored the need for continued vigilance and international cooperation to counter the evolving threat of piracy in the strategically significant Gulf of Aden.
