Somali Piracy: A Resurgence or Misinformation?

Recent activities off the Horn of Africa have seen a resurgence of Somali pirate behavior, with a number of reported acts of piracy. There have been narratives making rounds on digital platforms suggesting that a particular cargo ship came under the attack of these pirates. However, such information is misleading. In reality, a distinct episode occurred, where aspiring hijackers, identified as Somali pirates, audaciously aimed to seize command of a defenseless cargo vehicle in the open sea. Surprisingly, the ship was anything but helpless.

The video evidence discloses an unexpected situation aboard the cargo vessel. It pictures a swift small boat cutting through the waters towards the seemingly defenseless ship. But what transpires next caught the hijackers off-guard. The ship had an equipped and ready team of armed security. As the small boat approached, the security personnel, wearing protective gear, retaliated and the boat exploded, thwarting the attempted hijacking.

Somali piracy first took root in the latter part of the prior century following the dissolution of the Somali central governmental control in 1991. Subsequent lawlessness in regional tides presented opportunities for armed factions. They seized this period of chaos and began capturing vessels across the broad expanse of the Gulf of Aden and the broader Indian Ocean, often demanding and receiving ransom for the kidnapped crews.

2011 marked the height of such activities, with a staggering 237 reported attacks by Somali pirates. As per an estimation put forward by the World Bank, piracy activities in 2010 had a negative impact on the global economy, causing a loss of approximately $18 billion. But then, in ensuing years, consolidated efforts started making a difference.

EUNAVFOR, the European Union Naval Force, and CTF-151, the multinational Combined Taskforce 151, commenced regular naval patrols. Strategic cooperation between them and on-ship private armed guards dramatically curtailed pirate activities by the year 2013. The last significant commotion caused by Somali pirates happened in 2017 when they successfully commandeered the Aris 13, an oil carrier registered under the Comoros flag.

More recent skirmishes with Somali pirates were recorded in early 2025, focusing on Yemeni fishing crafts and a dhow located in the vicinity of the Somali shoreline. Yet, the social media posts flaunting a video that is claimed to depict a piracy attempt by Somalis are patently incorrect.

An Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) can independently function on the water surface without requiring a human operator to be physically present on it. This boat can be directed remotely, or it can automatically follow pre-set programs to carry out assignments. Such vehicles can be equipped with explosive devices intended to collide with and demolish other vessels.

Distinctive attributes such as particularities of the ship deck and the explosive boat can be drawn out from the video clip that has been in circulation on various social populated platforms like Facebook.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), an organization run by the Royal Navy serving commercial vessels and military operations in the Middle East and Indian Ocean region, had issued precautions regarding this incident when it occurred.

Conventional media channels reported the incident as well. Beyond this particular scenario, ongoing tensions have seen Houthis, a militia group originating from Yemen, targeting several business ventures in the brackish waters of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Since the closing months of 2023, the Houthis have been militant. Their primary targets have been commercial ships sailing the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The justification they propose for these provocative moves revolves around their purported kinship with the people in the Palestinian-dominated Gaza Strip.

However, the occurrences mentioned above, while concerning, are not related in any way to the misinformation being spread on social media. The video footage being shared does not accurately depict the reality of the situation at hand. Instead, it serves to stir up unwarranted fears and misunderstanding.

Understanding the true narrative and context behind these events is crucial in preventing panic and maintaining global security. Misinformation and disinformation, whether propagated intentionally or accidentally, can often lead to harmful consequences. Therefore, it’s essential to verify the information before sharing it further.

In the fight against piracy, coordinated intervention by international forces has proven instrumental. By providing on-board armed security and conducting extensive naval patrols, they have significantly reduced pirate attacks. The incident depicted in the video serves as a stark reminder of these efforts.

Advancements in technology have led to the development of instruments like the Unmanned Surface Vehicle, making the effort to secure seas more efficient. Incidents like the one mentioned have helped to showcase the effectiveness of such interventions.

Despite the spread of misleading social media posts and misinterpretation of events, the reality remains that vigilant international forces and advanced technologies continue to play critical roles in maritime security. The recent disruptive activities by armed groups such as the Houthis, while alarming, should not overshadow the progress that has been made in combating piracy in the region. Therefore, it’s crucial to maintain consistency in providing accurate information and a clear understanding of the situation.