Somali piracy resurges after 13-year lull with 15 attacks in 2026

August 30, 2026 at 09:12 AM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Somali pirates have carried out 15 attacks in regional waters since the start of 2026, the highest number since 2013 and a sharp rise from five incidents last year, according to an International Maritime Organization analysis. The Gulf of Aden between Somalia and Yemen has seen eight raids since May, while the largest incident occurred on April 21 when about 30 armed pirates seized the Honour-25 oil tanker and took 17 crew members hostage.

Key Facts

The International Maritime Organization recorded 15 pirate attacks in Somali waters since the start of 2026, the highest since 2013.
Eight raids have occurred in the Gulf of Aden between Somalia and Yemen since May.
On April 21, about 30 armed pirates attacked the Honour-25 oil tanker north of Eyl and took 17 crew members hostage.
The 90-metre tanker remains under pirate control, according to the source.
The current scale remains far below the 2011 peak, when nearly 200 ships were attacked over three years.

Attack Surge

Somali piracy has revived after a 13-year lull, with 15 attacks recorded in regional waters since the beginning of 2026, according to an International Maritime Organization analysis. The figure is the highest since 2013 and a sharp increase from five incidents last year. The Gulf of Aden between Somalia and Yemen has been particularly affected, with eight raids since May. The corridor linking the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean is one of the busiest maritime routes on Earth. The war that began on February 28 between Iran, the United States and Israel has added further pressure on regional traffic and raised shipping risks.

Honour-25 Seizure

The year's largest incident occurred on April 21, when a group of about 30 armed pirates attacked the Honour-25 oil tanker moving north of Eyl. The attackers took 17 crew members hostage. The 90-metre vessel remains under pirate control, according to the source. Eyl is cited as a key hub of Somali piracy.

Historical Comparison

Despite the recent surge, the current scale remains far below the 2011 peak, when nearly 200 ships were attacked over three years. The new figures indicate that an old threat to maritime security is re-emerging.