Pirates Hijack Commercial Vessel Bound for Mogadishu off Puntland Coast, Demand Ransom
By Abdiasis Farah Said
Brown Land News | April 2026 A commercial vessel identified as MT Honour 25 (IMO 1099735), reportedly en route to Mogadishu, was hijacked last Wednesday by suspected pirates off the coast near Bander Bayla, a coastal town in the Puntland region of Somalia. The ship remains under pirate control, with its crew held hostage as ransom demands intensify. According to local sources, the vessel was seized while navigating waters known for sporadic piracy incidents. The attackers are reportedly holding 17 crew members onboard, including 10 from Pakistan, 4 from Indonesia, and one each from Myanmar, India, and Sri Lanka. The condition of the hostages remains unclear. On Saturday, the pirates reportedly contacted local media outlets, confirming their control of the vessel and issuing demands for ransom. No official figure has been disclosed, but analysts suggest negotiations may already be underway behind closed doors. This latest hijacking adds to a growing pattern of maritime insecurity in the region. Just one month ago, a Chinese fishing vessel operated by the Liao Dong Yu company was seized in the same area. That incident ended after the company reportedly paid more than $1 million to secure the vessel’s release.In another case earlier this year, pirates boarded a Thai-flagged vessel and held it for approximately 24 hours before abandoning it. The withdrawal reportedly followed the approach of naval forces linked to NATO, which had attempted a rescue operation.Security experts warn that these incidents signal a troubling resurgence of piracy along the Puntland coastline, particularly near key shipping routes into Mogadishu. Maritime analysts note that reduced patrol presence and local political instability may be contributing factors.Critics point to governance challenges within Puntland as a key issue. The regional administration, led by President Said Abdullahi Deni, has been embroiled in ongoing disputes with Somalia’s federal government over electoral processes and internal political tensions. Observers also highlight concerns about the Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF), a security unit established in 2011 with support from the United Arab Emirates to combat piracy. While originally tasked with maritime security, critics allege the force has increasingly been diverted toward domestic political enforcement, including crackdowns on opposition figures and dissenting voices. As the situation unfolds, international shipping operators are being urged to exercise caution when transiting waters off Somalia’s northeastern coast. The fate of the MT Honour 25 and its crew now hinges on negotiations that may further embolden piracy networks if resolved through ransom payments. Brown Land News will continue to monitor developments in this story.
