Suspected pirates seized control of a cargo vessel and steered it toward Somalia’s coast in an incident reported on April 27, 2026, raising concerns over a resurgence of maritime attacks in the region.
The ship, carrying cement and flying a foreign flag, was hijacked near the Puntland coast, with armed men boarding and taking control of the vessel. Maritime authorities said the ship was being directed within Somali waters as the situation continued to unfold.
The vessel had been traveling from Egypt to Kenya when it was intercepted. Officials have not confirmed the number of crew members on board, and no ransom demands have been publicly reported.
The incident follows another recent hijacking in the same region, prompting fears of a renewed wave of piracy after years of decline due to international naval patrols. Authorities and maritime security agencies are monitoring the situation closely as efforts continue to assess risks to shipping lanes in the area.
