Somalia urges end to ransom payments amid rising piracy

Somalia is calling for urgent international intervention and a cessation of ransom payments following a significant resurgence of maritime piracy off its coast and in the Gulf of Aden. Somali officials warned that paying ransoms to hijackers only serves to finance criminal activity and provides further incentive for future attacks.

Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi stated that while Somali forces, supported by the Turkish navy, have successfully rescued vessels such as the MV Lutuf, many seafarers remain in captivity. Fiqi emphasized that the government will not negotiate with abductors to avoid funding piracy.

The Somali foreign ministry has announced plans to raise the issue with the UN Security Council, demanding the “immediate and unconditional release” of all held crew members. This escalation follows a period of relative calm; the International Maritime Organization reported that over 90 seafarers were being held across several vessels following a cluster of hijackings that began in April.