Piracy off Somalia surges to highest level since 2013, analysis of IMO data shows

Piracy off Somalia has risen to its highest level since 2013, according to an analysis of data from the International Maritime Organisation. At least 15 attacks have been reported since the start of the year across the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean within 2,000 kilometres of Somalia. The increase marks a sharp change after years in which the region recorded only a handful of pirate attacks annually.

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The analysis says eight of the attacks took place in the Gulf of Aden since May, an area between Somalia and Yemen that links the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean. The reports are drawn from the IMO's Global Integrated Shipping Information System and were analysed by AFP. The region had recorded five attacks in 2025, underlining how quickly the situation has deteriorated in 2026.

The largest attack this year took place on 21 April, when around 30 pirates armed with assault rifles and grenade launchers targeted the Honour 25, an oil tanker sailing north of Eyl in Puntland. The pirates took 17 crew members hostage and still control the 90-metre vessel. Eyl, a former fishing town, has long been associated with Somali piracy and remains one of the places most closely watched by maritime security officials.

The rise in attacks matters because the waters off Somalia sit on some of the world's busiest shipping routes. The Gulf of Aden is a key corridor for vessels moving between the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, and any increase in piracy can raise security risks and insurance costs for shipping companies. The latest figures also come as traffic in the wider region has already been heavily disrupted since the war between Iran, the United States and Israel began on 28 February, affecting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

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The new data also places the current surge in historical context. Piracy off Somalia peaked in 2011, when the IMO recorded around 200 attacks, and the previous two years also saw similarly high levels. Since then, attacks had fallen sharply, making the 2026 rise notable even though the total remains well below the peak years.

The pattern suggests that maritime security in the Horn of Africa remains vulnerable when conditions allow pirate groups to operate. What remains unclear is whether the recent increase will continue through the rest of the year or prompt a stronger international response. The fate of the Honour 25 and its crew remains a central concern, as does the extent to which shipping routes in the Gulf of Aden and nearby waters may be affected further.

The next developments to watch are any new attack reports, updates on hostage negotiations, and whether naval or regional authorities step up patrols in response.

#Somalia #piracy #GulfofAden #Honour25 #maritimesecurity

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