Somalia Condemns Resurgence of Piracy and Will Raise It at UN Security Council

Somalia has condemned the return of piracy off its coast and said it will take the issue to the United Nations Security Council. The government blamed a security gap left after ships from the United States, the European Union and other countries moved away from the Horn of Africa to support attacks involving Iran and Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

In a statement, Somalia’s Foreign Ministry said attacks or hijackings of merchant vessels had occurred since April 2026, with incidents extending into the Gulf of Aden. It expressed solidarity with affected crews and their families and demanded the immediate, unconditional release of sailors still being held.

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Since April 2026, attacks or hijackings of merchant vessels have occurred in incidents extending into the Gulf of Aden.

The ministry said Somali forces were acting against pirate networks at sea and on land. It cited the recent release of the Cameroon-flagged cargo ship MV Latuf, which pirates seized on Aug. 17. A joint operation by the Turkish navy and Somali army lasted 10 days, and authorities said 14 pirates died. The authorities confirmed the outcome on Aug. 29.

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Somalia stands in solidarity with the affected crews and their families and demands the immediate and unconditional release of all sailors who remain detained.

Somalia said that, as a current member of the Security Council, it would raise the threat with the body and cooperate with bilateral, regional and multilateral partners to free affected sailors and dismantle piracy networks.

Piracy off Somalia had fallen sharply over the past decade because of international patrols and improved security measures. The International Maritime Organization has recorded more than 25 attempted or completed incidents against vessels in the region over the past four months. The International Maritime Bureau also warned in a report published in early July that piracy and armed robbery incidents involving ships in Somalia rose during the first half of 2026, even as global incidents fell to their lowest level since 1992.

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As a current member of the United Nations Security Council, Somalia will raise this threat before the Council and cooperate with its bilateral, regional and multilateral partners.