Somali Pirates Hijack Two Ships in Four Days

Somali pirates have recently hijacked two ships within four days, sparking worries that piracy is increasing again in waters near Somalia and Yemen. The latest attacks include the capture of the Cameroon-flagged M/V LUTUF off Somalia’s Puntland coast and the hijacking of the Eritrean-flagged SIBU 1 tanker near Yemen.

The M/V LUTUF was carrying Turkish weapons and supplies meant for a military training center in Mogadishu. The ship’s crew consisted of ten people from India, Turkey, Georgia, and Serbia, including two Serbian security guards. Eight pirates reportedly took the vessel toward the Nugaal coast in Puntland.

Somali officials reported that six ships are currently held by pirates, with over 100 crew members being held hostage. In the first five months of this year, there have been at least 17 piracy-related incidents off Somalia and the Gulf of Aden, including the hijacking of three commercial vessels and five small boats.

Experts believe that regional conflicts, economic struggles for Somali fishermen, and reduced maritime security are fueling the rise in pirate activity. Somali piracy reached its peak around 2010, when hundreds of ships were seized, causing significant losses for shipping companies and insurers.