Sunday December 8, 2024 {HMC} Puntland security forces are preparing to launch an operation to rescue a Chinese fishing vessel and its 18 crew members, held hostage by Somali pirates off the coast of Eyl district, a local official confirmed on Sunday.
The pirates, armed with AK-47 rifles, have reportedly demanded a ransom for the vessel, which the Puntland administration licensed. While the exact timeline of the hijacking remains unclear, the European Union’s anti-piracy naval force, Atalanta, drew international attention to the incident on Thursday, classifying it as “armed robbery at sea.”
A senior Puntland security official stated that the administration is firmly opposed to paying the ransom and has authorized an armed operation should the pirates refuse to release the vessel and its crew safely.
“The company that owns the vessel has also been informed it will not negotiate with the pirates,” the official added.
Local sources suggest that Puntland business people with connections to the vessel’s fishing activities attempt to mediate a peaceful resolution. However, the pirates reportedly rejected a ransom offer of $1 million.
The vessel briefly approached the coast near Eyl on Friday but was forced back to sea by the pirates, fearing a confrontation with Puntland’s coastguards. Atalanta confirmed that the crew remains safe and uninjured and noted that it closely monitors the situation.
This incident marks the latest resurgence in Somali piracy after a period of decline. In March, Somali pirates hijacked a Bangladeshi cargo ship carrying over 55,000 tonnes of coal from Mozambique to the UAE, signaling a troubling revival of maritime insecurity in the region.
