Somali Pirates Seize Fishing Boat Off Africa’s Coast

Somali pirates have struck again! A Yemeni fishing vessel was hijacked near the Horn of Africa on February 9, 2025, raising fresh concerns about rising piracy in the region.

The attack happened off the coast of Eyl, Somalia. Pirates stole three small boats with high-powered engines before vanishing. A suspected pirate action group was later spotted leaving the area.

Somali piracy once brought global shipping to a standstill, costing the world $7 billion in losses and forcing $160 million in ransom payments. Could history be repeating itself?

After years of relative calm, piracy surged again in late 2023. The hijacking of the Al-Meraj 1 dhow marked the beginning of a troubling trend, with 44 piracy-related incidents reported since.

Officials fear that up to 19 fishing dhows have been hijacked—many possibly converted into ‘motherships’ for launching larger attacks. But how far will this crisis escalate?

In November 2024, Somali pirates hijacked a Chinese fishing vessel with 18 crew members, demanding a $10 million ransom. The crew was later released, but piracy remains a growing threat.

With pirate activity rising again, naval forces are intensifying patrols. The question remains—is the world prepared for a new wave of Somali piracy?