Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Experiencing Increase in Piracy

 The International Maritime Organization posted on 6 July 2026 a news release titled "IMO Secretary-General Calls for Release of 44 Seafarers Held by Pirates."

Seafarers are being held aboard three detained vessels in Somali waters by pirates and armed robbers.  The incidents highlight a worsening trend in maritime security in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.  Over the past three months the IMO has recorded 24 attempted and actual incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in the region.  

Somali Pirates Release Chinese Fishing Boat

 The Maritime Executive published on 13 January 2025 an article titled "China Wins Release of Fishing Boat Held off Somalia."

A Chinese fishing boat and its crew seized off Somalia by pirates in November has been released.  The pirates demanded $10 million ransom for its release; China offered $1 million.  It is unclear if China ultimately paid a ransom.  

Evolution of Somali Piracy

The Institute for Security Studies posted on 21 November 2018 a nineteen minute video titled "Tackling Somali Piracy on Land and at Sea" by Denys Reva.

The video discusses the question whether enough is being done to address the root causes of piracy in Somalia. The answer is no because some pirates have given up on piracy in favor of other criminal activity such as armed robbery, narcotics smuggling, and human trafficking.

Piracy and Armed Robbery in African Waters

The Institute for Security Studies published on 6 February 2015 an article titled "Africa's Maritime Security Wish List for 2015," which is a summary of the International Maritime Bureau's Piracy Reporting Centre (IMB-PRC) 2014 annual report as it covers African waters.

The IMB-PRC recorded 55 piracy and armed robbery attacks in 2014--down from 79 in 2013--in African waters.  Of these, 41 took place in the Gulf of Guinea and Atlantic Ocean, 12 occurred off the Horn of Africa or in the Western Indian Ocean, and one each occurred in Morocco and Mozambique.  About half the incidents met the definition of piracy and half armed robbery in territorial waters.