The Somaliland Foreign Ministry, sounding the alarm over a resurging piracy threat in the Red Sea, convened a crucial meeting with foreign missions and partners.
The escalating maritime security crisis, fueled by regional conflicts, has the potential to destabilize the entire Horn of Africa and disrupt vital global trade routes.
Somaliland Foreign Minister Essa Kayd painted a stark picture, emphasizing the strategic significance of the Red Sea. “Every year, 17,000 ships and 12% of global trade traverse these waters,” he stated. “Any vessel navigating the Suez Canal must pass through this region, highlighting the critical nature of the situation.”
Minister Kayd warned against the potential domino effect of unchecked piracy. “If left unaddressed, this insurgency will exacerbate existing regional instabilities, jeopardizing peace, security, and economic prosperity for nations across the Horn of Africa and beyond.”
The meeting further explored the unsettling nexus between piracy and terrorism. Minister Kayd revealed that a staggering 80% of illicit arms intercepted by the Somaliland Coast Guard in the Gulf of Aden were bound for terrorist cells in neighboring countries.
Recent events in Somalia’s Puntland region underscored the urgency of the matter. Pirates hijacked the Maltese-flagged M.V Ruen, marking the first merchant ship seizure by Somali pirates since 2017. Puntland’s Minister of Ports, Ahmed Yasin, expressed deep concern over the pirates’ regrouping and potential recruitment of additional armed personnel.
Somaliland, though not internationally recognized as a sovereign state, is calling on the global community to acknowledge the gravity of the situation and take immediate action to prevent further escalation. Minister Kayd urged, “We need a concerted international effort to address the root causes of piracy, strengthen maritime security, and ensure the safe passage of vessels in the Red Sea. The consequences of inaction are simply too dire to ignore.”
The meeting concluded with a call for collaborative action, highlighting the need for robust international partnerships, intelligence sharing, and enhanced capacity building measures for regional coast guards. Only through a unified response can the Red Sea be secured from the renewed threat of piracy, safeguarding both regional stability and global economic prosperity.
