Puntland state accuses Somalia, Türkiye of paying pirates after MV LUTUF freed

Sunday August 30, 2026

Garowe (HOL) — Puntland authorities have accused Somalia’s federal government and Türkiye of paying ransom to secure the release of the MV LUTUF, rejecting federal government statement that the cargo vessel was freed through a Somali-Turkish military operation off the coast of Puntland.

In a statement issued hours after Somalia’s Ministry of Defence announced the vessel’s release, Puntland’s Ministry of Security and DDR welcomed the freeing of the Cameroon-flagged cargo ship and its crew, who were hijacked by armed pirates off Puntland’s coast on Aug. 17.

However, Puntland denied that the vessel was rescued through an operation by the federal government or Türkiye.

“The Ministry of Security and DDR clarifies that there was no operation by the Federal Government of Somalia and or Türkiye that rescued the vessel, as stated in the letter issued by the Ministry of Defence of the Federal Government of Somalia on 29 August 2026,” Puntland said.

The ministry strongly condemned what it described as ransom paid to the pirates by Somalia’s federal government and the Turkish government for the release of the MV LUTUF.

Puntland said it had been monitoring telephone communications between senior federal government officials and the pirates who hijacked the vessel, accusing the officials of acting as intermediaries to facilitate the ransom payment and the ship’s release.

The administration did not provide independent evidence to support the allegation.

“The Puntland Ministry of Security and DDR considers the act of paying ransoms a serious mistake that threatens the collective efforts to combat piracy, and the respect for international humanitarian and anti-piracy laws,” the statement said.

Puntland said it had previously warned against ransom payments, arguing that they create financial incentives for pirates to continue hijacking vessels and complicate efforts to secure the release of other ships still held by pirates.

The ministry also condemned what it described as Turkish strikes that killed Somali citizens along the Garmaal and Jiifle coasts on Aug. 18 and Aug. 20, saying fishing boats were also destroyed.

Puntland accused Türkiye of using the claim that the victims were attempting to join pirates holding the MV LUTUF as justification for the strikes.

It said Puntland criminal investigation agencies were completing an inquiry and that the administration would hold Türkiye accountable for what it described as killings carried out in violation of international law and Islamic principles protecting human life.

“It is unfortunate that the Turkish government rewarded ransom payment for the pirates who seized the MV LUTUF, whereas bombed and killed youths on the coasts of Puntland, and destroyed fishing boats,” the statement said.

Puntland again warned against paying ransoms to pirates and called on international partners, including European Union maritime security missions, the United States and other governments, to strengthen cooperation on maritime security and freedom of navigation in the Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden and Red Sea.

The administration said it remains committed to fighting terrorist groups, pirates and other criminal networks threatening maritime security and public safety.

Somalia’s Ministry of Defence said Saturday that Turkish and Somali forces had freed the MV LUTUF after sustained pressure forced the remaining pirates to abandon the vessel.

The ministry said 14 pirates were killed and four pirate boats were destroyed during the operation.

It said the rescue was carried out under the defence cooperation agreement between Somalia and Türkiye, which aims to strengthen maritime security, protect Somalia’s coastline and combat piracy.

A local elder from the Jiifle community in Godobjiran district of Puntland’s Nugaal region told The Associated Press that the vessel and its crew had been freed.

The MV LUTUF left the Turkish port of Tekirdag in late July and was hijacked on Aug. 17 in waters off Nugaal region.

According to the MarineTraffic website, the cargo ship later continued its voyage toward its reported destination in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Piracy off Somalia’s coast was widespread in the 2000s and peaked in 2011 before declining sharply because of international naval deployments and new protection measures for commercial shipping.