Viral footage resurfaces, reigniting fears of maritime hijackings

In a harrowing incident reminiscent of high-seas thrillers, recently resurfaced footage captures the intense moment US mercenaries engaged in a firefight with a suspected group of Somali pirates attempting to hijack a massive cargo ship. The heart-stopping confrontation occurred off the coast of Somalia in 2012 but has regained attention on social media, echoing a similar event that unfolded in December 2023.

The dramatic video reveals a speedboat, believed to be carrying the alleged pirates, racing towards an American-guarded vessel. US mercenaries, quick to respond, fired warning shots at the approaching speedboat, which retaliated with rounds from sub-machine guns. While the incident itself dates back to 2012, renewed concerns have surfaced following a recent attack on a Maltese-flagged vessel.

Travelling along the coast of Somalia, the vessel fell victim to ‘unknown raiders,’ prompting Spain’s defence ministry to express deep concerns about the resurgence of piracy in the region. A Spanish warship has been dispatched to investigate the hijacked vessel, identified as the MV Ruen. The ministry released a statement confirming the hijacking but remained unable to identify the assailants.

Maritime security sources, however, suggest that this incident marks the first hijacking by Somali pirates since 2017. Gerry Northwood, a former Royal Navy captain with experience in the region, remarked, “They clearly think they have a permissive environment ashore, and success begets success.”

In response to the escalating situation, Ali Mohamed Omar, Somalia’s State Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, stated, “The current incidents are being scrutinised as standalone occurrences.” He hinted at exploring the crisis in the Red Sea as a potential reason, advocating for a diplomatic resolution.

Despite differing perspectives on the severity of the issue, Corey Ranslem, Chief Executive of a British maritime risk advisory, downplayed the fears of a piracy resurgence. He emphasized that the hijacking of the Ruen appears to be an isolated incident, and the motivations behind the attack remain unclear.

While the number of pirate attacks had reportedly decreased leading up to 2022, the recent events have reignited concerns about the safety of maritime routes, prompting renewed attention to counter-piracy measures on the high seas.