The European Union has dispatched a warship to waters off the coast of Somalia following a suspected pirate attack on a commercial tanker earlier this week, maritime security sources confirmed on Wednesday.
According to reports, armed assailants fired shots and attempted to board the tanker near Mogadishu on Monday, marking what could be the first suspected case of Somali-linked piracy since 2024. In a separate incident, a Seychelles-flagged fishing vessel was also approached by a high-speed boat, while maritime sources said an Iranian fishing vessel has been seized by unidentified gunmen.
Security analysts say the pattern of these incidents suggests a likely resurgence of organised pirate activity. British maritime firm Vanguard reported that the seized Iranian vessel may have been converted into a “mother ship” — a larger vessel used to launch smaller speedboats for offshore attacks.
EU NAVFOR’s anti-piracy mission, Operation ATALANTA, has acknowledged the situation and confirmed it is deploying a naval asset to the region, while declining to discuss operational details publicly due to security concerns.
British maritime security firm Ambrey warned that a Somali Pirate Action Group is likely already active and may be operating more than 300 nautical miles offshore, targeting vessels that match typical Somali piracy profiles.
Although Somali piracy has been largely dormant for several years, maritime threats in the wider region remain elevated. Since late 2023, Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi militia has posed a major threat to shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, launching drone and missile attacks on commercial vessels. While the Houthis later announced a truce on targeting U.S.-linked vessels, many global shipping companies remain reluctant to return to those routes, forcing hundreds of ships to detour around southern Africa — significantly increasing transit time, fuel consumption, and shipping costs.
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Security analysts warn that if pirate activity revives alongside the ongoing Red Sea disruptions, the entire Indian Ocean trade corridor could face heightened risks in the months ahead.
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Source:Africa Publicity
