Somalia piracy: Are we witnessing its return off the country's coast? - BBC News

Recent India Ocean hijackings are fuelling concerns that an old problem could be making a comeback.

14 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Indian NavyImage caption, The Indian Navy posted a photo of its personnel with the captured hijackersBy Wedaeli ChibelushiBBC NewsHijackers are once again targeting ships off Somalia's coast and a recent spike in attacks has brought back memories from more than a decade ago.

That was when armed Somali pirates scoured the waters, forcefully boarding vessels and raking in millions of dollars by demanding ransoms.

That died down and all but disappeared once extensive security measures were put in place, but the events from the past few weeks has raised questions about whether a full-scale resurgence of piracy is possible.

According to EUNavfor Atalanta, a European Union naval force responsible for maritime security along East Africa's coast, at least 14 vessels have been hijacked off the Somali coast since late November.

These include two in that month when an Iranian-flagged fishing boat was attacked and then two days later a Liberian-flagged ship, Central Park, was targeted. In both cases the crews were rescued.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-68155471?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA

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