Somali piracy has resurfaced in the Gulf of Aden after armed groups hijacked an oil tanker off the coast of Yemen. The incident has raised fresh concerns about maritime security in the region.
The vessel, identified as MT Eureka, was seized early in the morning and is now heading towards Somali waters, according to Somali security officials who spoke to the BBC.
Details of the hijacking
Pirates captured the tanker near the Yemeni port of Qana at around 5:00 local time. The ship had been sailing under the flag of Togo before the attack.
According to officials, the attackers launched their operation from a remote coastal area near the town of Qandala in Somalia’s Puntland region. After taking control of the vessel, they began moving it across the Gulf of Aden. It is expected to anchor in Somali waters within hours.
This incident follows another recent hijacking in the region. On 22 April, pirates seized the oil tanker Honor 25, which was carrying 18,500 barrels of oil to Mogadishu.
Growing concerns over maritime security
The latest attack marks the fourth successful hijacking in just two weeks. As a result, concerns are growing about a renewed wave of piracy along Somalia’s coastline.
In a separate incident, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that armed individuals approached a bulk carrier near Al-Mukala in Yemen. They later withdrew without boarding the vessel.
Officials said those individuals had also departed from a remote coastal area near the town of Caluula. This location lies about 209 kilometres from where the MT Eureka was seized.
These incidents suggest that pirate activity is spreading across a wider area. Somalia has the longest coastline in mainland Africa, which makes monitoring and enforcement more difficult.
Return of piracy in the region
Piracy off the Somali coast had declined significantly after 2011. However, it has increased again since late 2023.
Analysts link the resurgence to ongoing attacks by Houthi forces in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. These attacks have forced international naval forces to shift their focus. As a result, pirate groups have taken advantage of reduced patrols.
So far, Somali authorities and the European Union Naval Force have not issued statements on the latest hijacking.
A security official in Puntland warned that the situation is worsening. He said armed groups are becoming more active along the coast, which could lead to further incidents.
