Mogadishu (AX) — On a seemingly tranquil February day off Somalia’s economically ragged coast, under the shadow of the region’s turbulent maritime history, another chapter unfolded. The circumstances forebode a familiar narrative, one that’s as unsettling as the early-morning chill on Garmaal’s coastline: a Yemeni-flagged fishing boat suspected of romantic yet perilous piracy.
The European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) under Operation ATALANTA, engaged tirelessly in the complex chess game of maritime security, recorded this troubling act on February 18, just off the tranquil coast near Eyl in the Northeastern State region—an area equally famous for its scenic beauty as historically notorious for its perilous waters.
Tasked with safeguarding one of the world’s most vital maritime arteries, EUNAVFOR works diligently with the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), the Yemeni Coast Guard, and the Northeastern State Maritime Police Force (PMPF) in a concerted effort to piece together what transpired. Has the realm against piracy been breached once more?
In the preceding days of early February, the Somali sea’s whispered tales of daring had already become more than whispered rumors—a harsh reminder of this was felt on February 9. The Yemeni dhow, Al Najma, became the tragically celebrated vessel in these oceanic epics. It harbored twelve souls whose journey was rudely interrupted after pirates made their unceremonious entrance. Intervention by EUNAVFOR pushed the perpetrators to flee, though not before they plundered their prey.
There was a time when the Somali waters, notorious for their rogue dominion over the early 21st century’s shipping routes, saw a lull—a decline accredited in large part to a fortified concert of international naval patrols and increased maritime security measures combined with a semblance of political order in Mogadishu. Picture this: trade ships once again pushing gently through the azure lanes, marking their trail under the watchful eyes of regional stability.
Yet, the sea, much like the land from whence the pirates hail, finds itself enmeshed in the intricate tapestries of conflict. The Red Sea remains fraught; Houthi rebels write their never-ending script of aggression on the region, targeting sectors tied irrevocably to the distant Israel-Gaza conflict. New factors demand their toll on these waters.
A question arises: can these eclectic waters boil simply due to financial desperation, shifting global naval priorities, and unresolved turmoil? According to the International Maritime Bureau, the rhythm of piracy incidences has experienced a significant uptick, with 2024 witnessing seven incidents—a substantial rise accentuating how unresolved tensions beneath the surface now deliver timely challenges.
As Northeastern State and Somali federal arbiters sound the alarm against this looming resurgence, they implore the global community for supportive prowess—a call to arms, so to speak, for augmented patrols and vigilant practices to plug the pertains of contemporary piracy. Even the greatest champions of commercial shipping must now heed calls to gird their vessels against unforeseen threats. Ever onward, vigilance wears its myriad forms.
Operational wisdom dictates that all who sail these waters heed EUNAVFOR’s urging and register with the Maritime Security Centre – Indian Ocean (MSCIO) Voluntary Registration Scheme (VRS). Such cooperation fosters not only a spirit of communal vigilance but lubricates the machinery of rapid response when storms unexpected arise.
Through their Friendly Approaches program, EUNAVFOR nurtures rapport with local fishermen by not just offering camaraderie but also imparting critical security guidance—a strategy as much about deterrence as it is about forging bonds of trust.
Reflect on this: the chaos piracy once wreaked on Somali coasts—once peaking with 237 attacks in 2011, bleeding the global economy by an estimated $7 billion—is a reminder of the economic havoc immoral opportunism can beset. Those were the days of ransoms, subterfuge, and desperate nightly vigils.
A decade passed and with it the age of heightened repulsions. But even as the world busies itself with miring skirmishes—kaleidoscopic conflicts in the Red Sea, the ever-persevering Ukrainian front—we question if a specter we thought vanquished may rear anew.
EUNAVFOR’s investigation continues its slow, determined march toward untangling this fresh pirate mystery off the Garmaal coast. Their loyal partners and untiring perseverance remain a bulwark against regression into past chaos.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring
