By Abdullahi Salad - Reporter
MOGADISHU, Sept. 6, 2026 (Dawan) — Somalia has called for stronger international cooperation to combat a resurgence of piracy following a rise in attacks and hijackings targeting vessels off its coast and in the Gulf of Aden.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said in a statement on Sunday that the federal government strongly condemned the renewed piracy threat, particularly off the coast of Puntland.
The ministry said attacks and hijackings targeting commercial vessels have been recorded since April, with pirate groups expanding their operations into parts of the Gulf of Aden.
Somali security forces are conducting operations against piracy networks at sea and on land, the ministry said, adding that efforts to dismantle the groups would continue.
Among the latest operations was the rescue of the cargo vessel MV LUTUF, which was freed on Aug. 29 after being hijacked near the Puntland coast on Aug. 17.
Türkiye’s Ministry of National Defence said it supported Somali authorities during the operation to free the vessel, describing the assistance as part of security and defence cooperation between the two countries.
More from Somalia
The Somali government said international maritime-security cooperation related to the country should be conducted under federal government leadership and in coordination with federal member states, within a unified national framework with clear accountability.
It called on international partners to work through that framework to strengthen Somali forces responsible for protecting the coastline and maintaining maritime security.
Somalia, which currently holds a seat on the United Nations Security Council, said it would raise the resurgence of piracy at the council and work with regional and international partners to address the threat.
The government said those efforts would include cooperation under the Djibouti Code of Conduct and its Jeddah Amendment to secure the release of seafarers still being held and dismantle piracy networks.
“The Government of Somalia will not allow the country’s waters to become a safe haven for those who commit maritime crimes,” the Foreign Ministry said.
Discover more Somalia updates