Somalia and Turkey say they freed the hijacked MV LUTUF; Puntland says a ransom was paid

Pirates hijacked the Cameroon-flagged MV LUTUF on August 17 off Puntland.

The ship was seized in waters off Puntland’s Nugaal region, including accounts placing the boarding off Eyl district and Jifle.

Pirates held the vessel off the Garmal and Nugaal coast after the hijacking.

The ship left the Turkish port of Tekirdag in late July.

MarineTraffic listed the ship as bound for Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The vessel operated under a Cameroonian flag.

A Somali official said the ship was carrying Turkish military supplies, weapons, communications and satellite equipment bound for the TURKSOM base in Mogadishu.

The ship had a 10-member crew of six Indians, one Turkish national, one Georgian and two Serbian security guards.

Somalia’s defense ministry said the operation lasted 10 days.

Somalia’s defense ministry said 14 pirates were killed.

The ministry said four boats used by the pirates were destroyed.

The ministry said remaining pirates abandoned the vessel under sustained pressure.

The ministry said forces took control of the ship.

Authorities said the ship had resumed its voyage.

The ministry said the operation was conducted under a Somalia-Turkey defense cooperation agreement.

The ministry did not provide details on the crew’s condition.

Elder Abdullahi Warsame said the vessel and its crew had been freed.

Puntland said it had monitored telephone communications between senior federal officials and the pirates.

Puntland accused federal officials of acting as intermediaries to facilitate a ransom payment.

Puntland did not publicly provide independent evidence for the ransom allegation.

Puntland welcomed the freeing of the ship and crew.

Puntland called paying ransoms a serious mistake that threatens anti-piracy efforts.

Puntland said ransom payments create financial incentives for further hijackings and can make other hostage ships harder to free.

Earlier reports said the pirates had demanded about $2 million.

It was unclear at the time of the demand whether formal ransom negotiations had begun.

Puntland accused Turkey of strikes along the Garmaal and Jifle coasts that killed Somali civilians.

Puntland said those strikes were on August 18 and August 20.

Puntland said fishing boats were destroyed in the strikes.

Puntland said Turkey justified the strikes as stopping people from joining the pirates.

Puntland said it would hold Turkey accountable for the killings.

Puntland said its investigators were completing an inquiry.

Piracy off Somalia peaked around 2011 before international naval deployments curbed it.

Attacks have surged since April.

IMO figures put at least 15 attacks off Somalia this year, the highest since 2013.

At least five cargo ships have been held hostage, the latest seized August 20 off Yemen.

Somalia and Turkey signed a defense and economic cooperation agreement in 2024.

Under the deal Turkey is to help build, train and equip Somalia’s navy and combat piracy and illegal fishing.

Somalia’s defense ministry warned it would hold people who support or facilitate piracy accountable.

Puntland called on the European Union, the United States and other partners to strengthen maritime-security cooperation.

Puntland said it remains committed to fighting pirates, terrorists and other criminal networks.