EU force rescues German cargo ship seized by Somali pirates

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The European Union (EU) anti-piracy force rescued a German cargo ship in Somalia’s coastline, officials said, in a botched piracy that further manifests the need to increase surveillance along the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea coastline within Somalia.

The EU said its forces boarded the Basilisk from a helicopter on Thursday night, having sent one of its Operation Atalanta warships to respond earlier in the day. The pirates were forced to abandon the mission having seized the ship momentarily, officials said.

The German cargo ship reportedly hijacked offshore Somalia as Turkey took charge of the protection of the country's waters under a 10-year deal. Somalia had signed a defense pact with Turkey, which would see Ankara dispatching warships to Somalia’s coastline.

The Liberia-flagged MPP Basilisk was boarded Thursday by pirates using two small boats 401 nautical miles (742km) southeast of Marka, Lower Shabelle region near Mogadishu, officials added. The European Union forces would respond later after signals.

The ship was on its way from Porto Grande, Cape Verde, to the UAE’s Jebel Ali port and had an estimated 4.5m freeboard at the time, reports indicate. Somalia's coastline has recently been on a dangerous path with pirates increasing activities.

A few months ago, several Somali pirates were charged in India for hijacking a ship and this month, some other pirates are set to stand trial in Seychelles. Cases of piracy had substantively reduced in the recent past before the 2024 surge.

While no official research can explain the recent shift in security alertness, there are reports that the pirates may have signed a deal with Al-Shabaab militants who are giving them protection. The al-Shabaab have lost several strategic towns in Somalia.

The government of Somalia has reached out to multinational security teams for support along the oil-rich coastline which is yet to yield potential. The country is gradually gaining stability after decades of internal wars and Al-Shabaab menace.

GAROWE ONLINE