MV Lutuf cargo ship freed after hijacking off Puntland coast

The hijacked Cameroon-flagged cargo ship MV Lutuf has been freed off the coast of Puntland following a nearly two-week seizure. The vessel, which was taken on August 17, was carrying a 10-person crew including nationals from India, Turkey, Georgia, and Serbia.

Conflicting accounts exist regarding the recovery of the ship. Somalia’s Ministry of Defence reported that a 10-day military operation involving the Turkish Navy and Somali National Armed Forces destroyed four pirate boats and killed 14 pirates, forcing the remaining attackers to abandon the vessel.

Conversely, the Puntland Ministry of Security rejected the military success narrative, claiming the crew was released after federal officials in Mogadishu facilitated a ransom payment. Local reports in Puntland estimated the ransom at approximately $2.5 million, though this remains unverified. Additionally, Puntland officials accused Turkey of conducting airstrikes in coastal areas that resulted in civilian casualties and the destruction of fishing boats.

The incident occurs amid a resurgence of piracy in the Horn of Africa, with at least 15 attacks reported off the Somali coast since the beginning of the year.