Puntland State forces clash with suspected pirates in Mudug, casualties reported

Thursday April 30, 2026

Garacad (AX) — Fighting broke out in the Garacad area of Mudug region on Thursday morning after Puntland State security forces engaged suspected pirates, leaving several people feared dead and others wounded.

Local residents said the confrontation began when Puntland State forces moved against armed men believed to be connected to recent piracy incidents along the coast.

Among those injured is the commander of the Jariiban district police station, Abdullahi Abdi Elmi “Guray Dusaaye” (Booyaax), although officials have not confirmed his condition.

Sources also said a Puntland State presidential guard soldier, identified as Asad Arab, was killed in the clash.

Following the exchange of fire, the pirates were reported to have fled the area. No official statement has been released by authorities, and the casualty count remains uncertain.

The violence comes at a tense moment in Garacad, where Puntland State authorities are said to be preparing an operation against pirate groups currently holding several commercial vessels.

Concern has been mounting after at least three ships were hijacked off the Somali coast in the past week, fueling fears of a renewed piracy threat in the region. One of the vessels, the oil tanker Honour 25, was seized on April 21 while carrying about 18,000 barrels of oil.

According to the Maritime Security Centre, Horn of Africa, another merchant vessel, Sward, was taken on April 26, one day after a dhow was also hijacked.

Piracy off Somalia reached its peak in 2011, when more than 200 attacks were recorded, before dropping sharply amid increased international naval patrols. But since 2023, the number of incidents has begun to rise again, reviving worries along one of the world’s busiest and most strategic shipping corridors.