Pirates who hijacked a Chinese-owned fishing vessel with 18 crew members off the northeastern coast of Somalia last month are demanding a $10 million ransom, according to a Somali official.
The hijackers also posted photos on social media showing the captives surrounded by armed men on the ship’s deck.
The vessel was seized in late November and taken to the Xaafuun district in Puntland, a semi-autonomous region, where it remains held along with the crew. The ship’s security guards later teamed up with the armed men from the coastal region.
A Somali government official confirmed that the vessel was issued a fishing license by Puntland in 2020, though the license had since expired. Speaking on condition of anonymity, as he was not authorized to discuss the matter, the official did not provide further details on the ransom demand.
Last week, the European Union’s anti-piracy naval force, Eunavfor Atalanta, classified the incident as “robbery at sea.” The hijacking highlights the ongoing maritime security challenges off Somalia’s coast.
Though piracy peaked in 2011, with over 160 recorded attacks, incidents have since declined significantly, largely due to the presence of American and allied naval forces operating in international waters.
