By Abukar Osman - Reporter
GARACAD, Somalia, Aug. 29, 2026 - Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni accused foreign powers of pursuing their own interests in Somali waters under the banner of fighting piracy, saying Puntland is determined to protect its coastline.
Speaking in the port town of Garacad on Thursday, Deni said some countries arrived saying they wanted to fight piracy but later pursued their own interests in Somalia's maritime resources.
Puntland has the capacity to fight piracy directly and protecting its coastline and marine resources is its responsibility, he said.
“We said we would fight Al-Shabaab, and we have fought them. We said we would fight Daesh, and we have fought them. And we are fighting the pirates too,” Deni said, calling for cooperation between government and communities to protect the coast.
He said piracy threatens maritime security and economic development, and that security is essential to attract investment.
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Deni said troops had been prepared to deploy to Garacad, without giving details on the mission or timing.
His remarks come as piracy has returned off Somalia after years of relative calm. A series of hijackings has been reported since April, including the HONOUR 25 and SWARD off northern Somalia, according to the EU naval mission Operation Atalanta.
In July, the tanker ASANA was hijacked off Yemen and taken toward the northern Somali coast, Atalanta said. On Aug. 20, the tanker Sibu 1 was hijacked off Yemen by suspected Somali pirates and taken toward Puntland, the Associated Press reported. The attack was the sixth commercial vessel hijacking since April, raising concerns over shipping in the Gulf of Aden and western Indian Ocean.
Somali piracy declined sharply after international naval operations and improved security measures suppressed attacks for more than a decade.