Activity indicative of Somali-based piracy has re-emerged in the Indian Ocean Region since November 2023. With a renewed escalation observed in April and May 2026, multiple merchant vessels and fishing dhows have been approached, fired-upon, and hijacked off the coast of Somalia, with the most recent indicator activity also reported in the southern Gulf of Aden and at anchorages on the south coast of Yemen. While these events were first attributed to local fishery disputes, it now appears that these hijacked dhows are being used as pirate motherships in the Indian Ocean (including the GoA and Arabian Sea).

Recent Somali-based piracy and armed robbery against ships incidents have included the successful hijacking of well over a dozen fishing dhows and small boats, the attempted boarding of multiple merchant vessels, and the successful hijacking of two bulk carriers and two tankers. This is in addition to multiple reported sightings of suspected piratical activity or PAGs in the Indian Ocean Region. Recent incidents include the following:

• On 21 April 2026, the Palau-flagged combined chemical and oil tanker HONOUR 25 (IMO 1099735) was hijacked at 08°57′N 050°34′E, approximately 32.5 nautical miles (nm) south-southeast of Hafun, by six armed individuals using AK-variant rifles and a rocket-propelled grenade. The vessel had a freeboard of approximately 0.9 meters, was transiting at 3–5 knots, and had no embarked armed security; some crew of Pakistani and Sri Lankan nationality used the citadel during the boarding. The vessel was subsequently brought to anchor between Xaafun and Bandarbeyla, Puntland, with all 17 crew members remaining aboard.
• On 23 April 2026, the Barbados-flagged general cargo vessel ELFRIEDE (IMO 9300946) was attacked at approximately 06°23′N 049°48′E, approximately 83 nm southeast of Eyl, while underway from Mogadishu to Karachi, Pakistan. Two small vessels approached the vessel; following warning shots from the embarked private armed security team, the attacking vessels returned fire. ELFRIEDE increased speed northbound close to the coast and the approaching vessels broke off and returned to coast.
• On 25 April 2026, the cargo dhow FAHAD 4 (UAE-flagged, MMSI 470007178), transporting dry goods, was hijacked by approximately 11 pirates approximately 10 nm off Dhinowda, Somalia, at 07°00′N 049°00′E. The vessel’s last known position prior to the hijacking was on 23 April 2026 at 05°18.5′N 048°43.7′E.
• On 26 April 2026 at 2000 UTC, the general cargo vessel SWARD (IMO 9174244) was hijacked in the vicinity of Garacad, Somalia, outside Somali territorial waters near the Godobjiran area, while underway from Berbera to Mombasa, Kenya, by an estimated 10 armed individuals approaching in three skiffs; the vessel had no embarked armed security. The vessel was subsequently re-directed and anchored within Somali territorial waters at 07°13′N 049°32′E. Most of the 15 crew were mustered on the bridge under armed control, with two engineers held in the engine room.
• On 28 April 2026 at 1600 UTC, the Malta-flagged crude oil tanker MINERVA PISCES (IMO 9410179) reported a suspicious approach by a suspected mothership and skiff at 03°15′N 056°24′E, approximately 471 nm southeast of Garacad, while underway from Jazan, Saudi Arabia, to Mombasa, Kenya. The skiff closed to 400 meters on the starboard bow before disengaging in response to embarked armed security taking defensive positions, the vessel increasing speed, and conducting evasive maneuvers.
• On 02 May 2026 at approximately 0500 local time (0200 UTC), the Togoflagged tanker M/T EUREKA was boarded and seized by armed individuals while at anchorage off Qana Port, Shabwa Governorate, Yemen. Per MSCIO ALERT 41/26 (02 May 2026, 1215 UTC), the vessel was assessed to be underway following the hijacking, transiting at approximately 5 knots in the direction of the the Somali coast. Operation ATALANTA is investigating, and Yemen Coast Guard units have been deployed to locate the vessel. The seizure of a commercial tanker at anchorage in Yemeni waters represents a notable departure from the close-inshore Somali coast and deep-offshore mothership-launched profiles observed earlier in the current cycle.
• On 02 May 2026 at 0640 UTC, UKMTO reported a suspicious approach at 13°35.0′N 050°12.9′E in the Gulf of Aden, in which a suspected mothership and skiff closed to within 500 meters of a merchant vessel. The transiting vessel implemented hardening and security measures, and both suspicious craft subsequently disengaged. The temporal proximity (within hours) and approximate 110 nm geographic separation between this approach and the M/T EUREKA hijacking are notable. Attribution remains unknown pending further reporting from MSCIO, UKMTO, and Operation ATALANTA.

Hijacked fishing dhows are now being utilized as pirate motherships, enabling the pirates to travel long distances to carry out attacks. One successful hijacking of a merchant vessel in 2025 occurred approximately 600 nm off the Somali coast in the Arabian Sea. Attempted boardings and other suspected piratical activity have been reported up to approximately 900 nm off the Somali coast. It is further assessed that, should the EUREKA hijacking be confirmed as Somali-aligned, the threat envelope now extends to anchorages on the south coast of Yemen and demonstrates the potential for exploitation of vessels at non-Somali anchorages.