Friday July 26, 2024
FILE - Somaliland's Interior Minister, Mohamed Kahin Ahmed, addresses the recent Houthi attack on a cargo ship docked at the Port of Berbera during an interview.
Hargeisa (HOL) — Somaliland has addressed an incident involving a cargo ship attacked by Houthi militants from Yemen while docked at the Port of Berbera. The attack, which took place outside Somaliland's territorial waters, highlights growing security concerns in the region.
Somaliland's Interior Minister, Mohamed Kahin Ahmed, in an interview with BBC Somali, stated that the Houthis attacked the ship while it was sailing under the flag of Singapore. "The ship was sailing under Singapore's flag when it was attacked. At the time of the attack, it was not within Somaliland's maritime jurisdiction nor our boundaries. It was passing through the Bab al-Mandab strait and then returned damaged," Minister Kahin said.
The ship, recently damaged by the Houthis, had set sail from the Port of Berbera with cargo. After the attack, it returned to Berbera. Some media reports indicate that the ship was destined for Ethiopia, carrying a consignment of goods, although the Somaliland government has not confirmed the consignee.
Attacks by Iran-backed Houthi militants in the Red Sea have led to a resurgence of piracy networks in Somalia. These pirates, emboldened by the instability caused by the Houthis, have increased their activities. Vice Admiral Ignacio Villanueva of the European Union Naval Force noted a rise in pirate attacks, with pirates now using satellite phones and heavy weapons. There have been 30 attacks on commercial vessels, fishing boats, and dhows since November.
The Houthi attacks have disrupted global shipping routes, forcing vessels to take longer routes around southern Africa. This change has increased carbon emissions and raised freight costs due to extended delivery times. Pirates are more organized and well-armed than before, with attacks involving 25-30 pirates.
The MV Lobivia, a Singapore-flagged containership, was attacked by the Houthis while en route to Somalia. The vessel sustained minor damage from a missile attack approximately 83 nautical miles southeast of Aden, Yemen. The crew managed to extinguish a fire caused by the impact, and the ship continued its journey to Somalia after evasive maneuvers.
The Houthis have explicitly stated that their attacks on ships violating their ban on Israeli ports are a response to Israel's attacks in Gaza. Another recent target was the tanker Chios Lion, which suffered an attack and left an oil slick in the Red Sea. The Houthis aim to disrupt trade routes and maritime activities to pressure Israel economically and logistically.
EUNAVFOR's Operation Aspides has been involved in extensive naval operations to protect merchant ships. Over the past five months, the mission has included four naval vessels and over 800 personnel, covering 32,000 miles and providing 2,500 hours of protection services. Despite these efforts, Houthi attacks and threats continue to escalate.
Somaliland has called on the international community to collaborate in protecting Red Sea trade.