Somali Pirates Hijack Togo-Flagged Oil Tanker in Gulf of Aden

Somali pirates hijacked the Togo-flagged oil tanker MT Eureka in the Gulf of Aden near the Yemeni port of Qana. m. local time on Sunday, according to maritime sources and security officials from Somalia's Puntland region. The vessel is now heading toward Somali waters and is expected to anchor there soon.

This incident follows the hijacking of another oil tanker, Honor 25, on April 22, which was carrying 18,500 barrels of oil bound for Mogadishu.

Pirates departed from a remote coastal area near Qandala in Puntland for the MT Eureka seizure, security officials said. A separate incident on Friday involved armed persons on a skiff approaching a bulk carrier near Al-Mukala, Yemen, with the group originating from near Caluula, about 209 kilometers away.

These events indicate an expansion of piracy along Somalia's 3,333-kilometer coastline, the longest in mainland Africa. Somali piracy had declined since 2011 due to international naval patrols and armed guards on ships, but attacks have surged since late 2023.

The resurgence coincides with Houthi rebels attacking ships in the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea, diverting international navies' focus. This has created a security lapse that armed groups on the Somali coast are exploiting, according to a Puntland security official.

“The on-going crisis with the pirates is much worse than many realize. There are increasing movements (of armed groups) all over the coast" — a security official from the semi-autonomous Puntland region, May 3, 2026 (BBC News). No group has claimed responsibility for the MT Eureka hijacking, and there is no immediate information on the crew's condition. Somali authorities and the European Union Naval Force have not yet responded to the incident.”

Aden serves as a critical gateway for global trade, linking the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea and Suez Canal. The Yemeni coastguard initially reported the hijacking and the tanker's direction toward Somalia. This marks the fourth successful pirate hijacking in two weeks.

Maritime sources describe it as part of a string of attacks signaling piracy's return in vital shipping lanes. Security analysts note that regional instability and reduced maritime surveillance have encouraged the resumption of such activities. The United Kingdom Maritime Transportation Operation reported the Friday skiff approach.