Resurgence of Piracy: Actions off the Northeastern Coast of Puntland
On December 6, 2024, a Chinese fishing vessel with 18 crew members transiting off the northeastern coast of Puntland, Somalia, was seized by a suspected pirate threat group armed with AK-47 assault rifles and machine guns. The European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR), operating under Operation Atalanta, assessed the event as a maritime interdiction by hostile actors. The crew was taken under control without reported casualties, marking a significant escalation in piracy activity within the area of operations.
This incident underscores the resurgence of piracy in Somali waters, driven by geopolitical instability in the region. Heightened conflict in the Red Sea, particularly Houthi-led attacks disrupting maritime trade routes, has forced vessels to reroute through Somali territorial waters, creating lucrative targets for pirate groups
The vessel’s seizure aligns with a broader trend of increased maritime traffic in the Gulf of Aden, doubling in volume compared to previous years. This rise in transit activity has emboldened pirate operations, often leveraging hijacked vessels as mobile bases for extended range attacks. Notably, international naval assets have shifted focus to the Red Sea, leaving Somali waters less protected.
