Alarmed by a resurgence of piracy in the Red Sea, the Somaliland Foreign Ministry convened a critical meeting with foreign missions and international partners on Wednesday.
The discussions centered on the escalating threat and its potential to destabilize the entire Horn of Africa region, urging swift international intervention.
“The escalating conflict in the Red Sea has created a perfect storm for piracy to flourish,” declared Somaliland’s Foreign Minister, Essa Kayd.
“With 17,000 ships and 12% of global trade traversing these waters annually, the implications extend far beyond Somaliland, jeopardizing critical trade routes, economic progress, and regional stability.”
Kayd painted a stark picture of the potential consequences and said “Left unchecked, this piracy resurgence can amplify existing regional instabilities, putting peace, security, and economic prosperity for all nations in the Horn of Africa at risk.”
He further underscored the chilling nexus between piracy and terrorism, highlighting that 80% of illicit arms intercepted by the Somaliland Coast Guard originated from pirate vessels, often destined for terrorist groups in neighboring countries.
The urgency of the situation was further underscored by the recent hijacking of the Maltese-flagged M.V Ruen off the coast of Puntland, Somalia.
This incident, marking the first pirate hijacking of a merchant ship since 2017, fueled concerns about a revival of piracy activities. Puntland’s Minister of Ports, Ahmed Yasin, expressed alarm over the regrouping of pirates and their potential recruitment of additional armed individuals.
While internationally unrecognized, Somaliland is playing a crucial role in combating piracy, patrolling vast swathes of the Red Sea despite limited resources.
However, Foreign Minister Kayd stressed the need for global action: “We call upon the international community to recognize the gravity of this situation and take immediate steps to prevent further escalation. The future of the Red Sea, and potentially the entire region, hangs in the balance.”
The escalating piracy threat in the Red Sea serves as a stark reminder of the region’s precarious security situation. Somaliland’s plea for international action underscores the collective responsibility to address this issue before it plunges the Horn of Africa into renewed instability.