Puntland Free MT Honour After Pirate Hijacking in April

GAROWE — Puntland’s Maritime Police Force (PMPF) has taken control of the oil tanker MTHonour, which had been held by pirates off the coast of Bandarbayla district in the Bari region, according to reports emerging from Puntland.

The MTHonour, sailing under the Palau flag, was a fuel tanker reportedly carrying cargo for Puntland-based traders. Initial reports indicate the vessel was hijacked on 21 April 2026 while en route to Mogadishu.

The PMPF launched a planned operation to recover the vessel and its crew, with preliminary reports indicating the operation concluded with the force taking control of the ship. During the operation, two members of the pirate group were reportedly wounded, while all other individuals suspected of involvement in the hijacking were captured and detained as prisoners.

As of Monday, no official details had been released regarding the condition of the vessel’s crew, the exact number of pirates involved, or the specific sequence of the operation.

The Honour 25 and Its Crew

The Honour 25 is a Palau-flagged oil tanker that was hijacked on 21 April 2026 while sailing toward Mogadishu. According to EUNAVFOR, the vessel was carrying approximately 17 crew members, most of them Pakistani nationals. The ship was transporting fuel, and the hijacking raised concerns about potential fuel shortages in Mogadishu, as reported in FTL Somalia’s coverage of the hijacking.

The Honour 25 was one of four vessels held by Somali pirates earlier in 2026. The others were the MV Sward, the MT Eureka and the MT Asana. According to EUNAVFOR, the Honour 25 was anchored off Somalia’s northern coast alongside the other hijacked vessels.

In September 2026, reports emerged that pirates had threatened to kill the crew of the Honour 25 if security forces attempted a rescue operation. The crew’s families said they had lost contact with the hostages, as detailed in FTL Somalia’s coverage of the hostage situation.

The MT Eureka, which was seized on 2 May 2026, remains in pirate hands. Pirates have demanded a $10 million ransom for the release of its crew, which includes eight Egyptians and four Indians, and have threatened to execute the hostages unless payment is made.

PMPF Operations Against Piracy

The PMPF has been engaged in a sustained campaign against pirates operating off Puntland’s coastline. In September 2026, the force rescued the Sibu 1, which had been hijacked in August 2026. During that operation, one pirate was killed and 41 others were captured.

However, 28 of the prisoners captured from the Sibu 1 escaped while being transported to Garowe. Security officials said they suspected that some police officers may have facilitated the escape. Officials described the nighttime transport of prisoners across regions as unusual.

The PMPF also recovered the MV Sward in September 2026, which had been hijacked in April. That vessel was released following an undisclosed ransom payment.

The ongoing piracy crisis has drawn international attention. The International Maritime Organization has warned that more than 90 seafarers were being held hostage across multiple vessels, and the Somali government has called for renewed international cooperation to address the resurgence of piracy off its coast.

Critical Note

The PMPF operation to free the MTHonour is a significant success in the fight against piracy, but important questions remain unanswered. Initial reports do not specify the condition of the vessel’s crew, the exact number of pirates involved, or whether there were additional casualties.

It is also important to verify that such operations are sustained and well-planned, given that Somali pirates have demonstrated the ability to regroup and carry out new attacks. In April 2026, pirates seized four vessels, demonstrating that the threat remains real and persistent.

There are also concerns about the escape of prisoners from the Sibu 1 operation, which suggests that the security and prisoner management system faces challenges. If security officials were involved in facilitating the escape, it would represent a serious problem for the credibility of Puntland’s security institutions.