Somalia: Puntland President Accuses Foreign Countries of Exploiting Somali Piracy

GARACAD, Somalia — Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni has accused foreign countries of using Somali piracy as a pretext to deploy forces along Puntland’s coast and exploit the region’s maritime resources.

Speaking in Garacad city, Deni said Puntland would not accept efforts to use the fight against piracy to justify the presence of foreign troops in its waters.

“We are being told that Puntland has failed to defend against piracy, and then foreign forces are brought to the coast to take our resources,” Deni said.

He said Puntland residents would not accept civilians being killed in anti-piracy operations and insisted that his administration has the capacity to tackle piracy without foreign military intervention.

Deni also referred to previous foreign operations along Somalia’s coastline, saying the country’s marine resources had been depleted during periods when international forces were conducting anti-piracy missions.

He called on Puntland residents and the international community to support efforts to combat piracy while warning against using the issue to justify foreign interference or exploitation of the region’s resources.

Puntland authorities have previously accused Somalia’s term-ended federal government of contributing to the resurgence of piracy, which has increased in activity along Somalia’s coastline in recent months.

Somali pirate groups are currently holding six merchant vessels and over 90 seafarers captive, marking the highest level of piracy activity off the coast of Somalia in 13 years.

According to reports highlighted by Seatrade Maritime, the six hijacked vessels being held by pirates include: Honour 25, Sward (reportedly used as a mothership), Eureka Asana, Lutuf, Seamull (the most recent tanker seized on August 20, 2026)

GAROWE ONLINE