Puntland dib u soo celisay markabka shidaalka ee MT Sibu 1 kadib howlgal 40 saacadood socday
Ciidamada ilaalada xeebaha Puntland ayaa dib ula wareegay markabka shidaalka ee MT Sibu 1, kaas oo burcad-badeed Soomaali ah afduubteen bishii Agoosto, iyagoo dilay hal burcad, dhaawacay afar, halka 42 kalena la qabtay.
Faahfaahin ka socota howlgalka
Wasiir ku xigeenka warfaafinta Puntland, Bile Maxamuud Qabowsade, ayaa sheegay in 20-ka shaqaale ee markabka aysan waxba kasoo gaarin howlgalka, isagoo intaas ku daray in markabka haatan loo soo wadaayo dekadaha Puntland. Wuxuu sheegay in muddada howlgalku u qaadatay ay tahay in dabelyaha xagaaga ay dhacayeen.
Saciid Muumin Axmed, hoggaamiye ka tirsan ciidanka badda Puntland (PMPF), ayaa sheegay in howlgalku uu ahaa mid qorsheysan oo socday muddo ku dhow 40 saacadood, kaas oo lagu soo afjaray gacan-ku-hayntii burcad-badeedda ee markabka, xilli uu ku sugnaa meel u dhow xeebaha gobolka Mudug.
Taariikhda afduubka iyo xaaladda caalamiga ah
Markabka MT Sibu 1, oo horay loogu magacaabi jiray SEAMULL, wuxuu ku goosha calanka Eritrea, waxaana bishii Diseembar 2025 cunaqabateyn saartay dowladda Mareykanka. Waaxda Maaliyadda Mareykanka ayaa sheegtay in maraakiibtaas ay dhowr jeer qaadeen wax soo saarka batroolka Iran.
Hay'adda Caalamiga ah ee Badaha (IMO) ayaa 24-kii Agoosto sheegtay in Sibu 1 uu noqday markabkii lixaad ee xilligaas ay kooxaha burcad-badeedda ku haysteen gobolka, iyadoo in ka badan 90 badmaaxayaal ah lagu hayay afduub, waxaana xaaladda loo tilmaamay dib u soo cusboonaansho burcad-badeednimo.
Howsha Puntland ee ka dhanka ah burcad-badeedda
Puntland waxay sheegtay in kooxaha burcad-badeedda ay taageero ka helayaan dhinacyo gudaha iyo dibadda Soomaaliya ah, iyadoo wasiirku uu yiri: 'Xogaha ay dowladdu hadda heyso waxay sheegayaan in falalkan burcad-badeedda ay dhiirrigelinayaan oo ay ka dambeeyaan laamo ka baxsan Soomaaliya iyo Puntland gudaheeda.'
Sarkaalka PMPF ayaa sheegay in dib ula wareegidda Sibu 1 aysan ahayn dhammaadka howlgallada, isagoo intaas ku daray: 'Ilaa inta Puntland laga waayayo falal burcad-badeed, xeebaha Puntland-na xasilloonidooda iyo nabadgelyadooda dib loo soo celinayo, howlgalladaasi way socon doonaan.'
Puntland's coastal guard forces have successfully recaptured the oil tanker MT Sibu 1 from Somali pirates who had seized it in August, killing one attacker, wounding four others, and capturing 42 individuals during a 40-hour operation off the Mudug coast.
Operation Details and Crew Safety
Puntland's Minister of Information Bile Maxamuud Qabowsade confirmed that all 20 crew members aboard the vessel were unharmed during the operation. The ship, an Eritrean-flagged oil tanker, was being towed to Puntland's ports following its recapture. Qabowsade stated that the pirates' legal cases would be pursued, emphasizing that no hijacked vessel remains in Puntland waters.
Saciid Muumin Axmed of the Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) revealed that the operation lasted nearly 40 hours and was conducted near the Mudug coast. He noted that no casualties were sustained by Puntland's forces or the ship's crew during the engagement, marking a significant success for the region's anti-piracy efforts.
Background on the Hijacking and Vessel History
According to UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the MT Sibu 1 was hijacked on August 20, 2026, approximately 136 nautical miles east of Al Mukalla, Yemen. Six armed men boarded the vessel, which was previously named SEAMULL and sanctioned by the US government in December 2025 for transporting Iranian oil products through a UAE-based company.
The IMO reported on August 24 that the MT Sibu 1 became the sixth ship held by Somali pirates at that time, with over 90 crew members taken hostage across multiple hijackings. The IMO described the situation as a resurgence of piracy in the Gulf of Aden, following four additional hijackings between April and May 2026.
Puntland's Broader Anti-Piracy Strategy
Puntland's PMPF commander stated that the recapture of the MT Sibu 1 does not signal the end of anti-piracy operations. He emphasized that planned operations will continue until piracy is eliminated from Puntland's waters, underscoring the government's commitment to maintaining maritime security.
Puntland has long asserted that Somali piracy is supported by entities both inside and outside the country. The government is currently investigating the identities of those behind the piracy attacks, with officials stating that evidence suggests external actors are encouraging and funding these operations.
Ilaha iyo xuquuqda sawirka
Sawir: BBC Somali Xigasho
