Somalia has pledged to enhance security for commercial vessels transiting its waters, officials said on Monday, as concerns mount over the safety of key international shipping routes.
Ambassador Abukar Baalle, Somalia’s representative to the United Nations, emphasized that protecting the country’s territorial sea is a matter of regional and global importance. “We fully recognize that protecting sea lanes and ensuring the safety of commercial vessels is essential for economic growth and regional stability,” Baalle said.
With the longest coastline on mainland Africa, Somalia sits at the junction of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, a corridor that underpins both regional stability and worldwide trade. The government said it will work closely with the international community to guarantee safe passage for cargo and commercial ships.
The statement follows a recent uptick in insecurity along several major maritime corridors, prompting many nations to heighten vigilance over merchant shipping. In recent years Somalia has intensified anti‑piracy operations, contributing to a sharp decline in attacks compared with earlier periods. The government announced plans to further strengthen its naval capabilities and deepen cooperation with neighboring states and international organisations to improve overall maritime security.
Mogadishu also called on the international community to respect the rights of commercial shipping and uphold international maritime law, ensuring open and safe sea routes for all nations that rely on maritime trade.
The renewed commitment comes after maritime security officials reported a suspected pirate seizure of a general cargo vessel off Somalia’s coast earlier this month. The incident, involving the ship Sward, marked the second reported hijacking in a week. The vessel, flagged under St Kitts and Nevis, had left Suez, Egypt, carrying cement bound for Mombasa, Kenya.
These developments occur against a backdrop of broader disruptions to global shipping lanes, including tensions in the Strait of Hormuz linked to recent conflicts involving the United States, Israel and Iran. Somalia’s pledge to bolster maritime security aims to mitigate such risks and maintain the flow of international trade through one of the world’s most vital sea routes.
