The number of piracy attacks against commercial vessels off the coast of African nations, particularly Somalia, has reached its highest level in 13 years, according to international media reports.
The Operative Information Center-OMM reports that at least 15 piracy incidents have been recorded in the region since the beginning of the year, with eight of these attacks occurring after May.
The most significant incident took place on April 21, when approximately 30 pirates attacked the oil tanker "Honor 25." Reports indicate that the vessel remains under the control of the attackers.
This surge marks a concerning reversal of trends observed over the past decade. The last time such a high frequency of attacks was recorded was in 2013. Following that period, international maritime organizations reported a significant decline in piracy, with only five such incidents recorded in 2025.
Historically, piracy off the Somali coast posed severe challenges to global maritime shipping from the late 2000s through the late 2010s, with armed groups frequently targeting vessels in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. While the presence of international naval patrols successfully suppressed these activities in the early 2020s, recent developments suggest a resurgence of organized pirate groups in the region, raising alarms among global shipping authorities regarding maritime security.
