Turkish and Somali Forces Free Hijacked Cargo Ship Lutuf

Joint forces from Turkey and Somalia freed the MV Lutuf, a Cameroon-flagged cargo ship, on August 29 after it was hijacked on August 17 near Maraya in the Nugaal region of Puntland. The vessel was transporting weapons and satellite equipment for the TURKSOM military facility in Mogadishu. The rescue operation involved the deployment of the TCG Kemalreis and TCG Yzb by the Turkish Navy.

The Ministry of Defense of Somalia and Turkish authorities report that the 10-day operation killed 14 pirates and destroyed four boats after ransom demands, ranging from $2 million to $10 million, were rejected. The crew of 10, comprising Indian, Turkish, Georgian, and Serbian nationals, was safely recovered.

However, the Puntland Ministry of Security disputed this account, claiming the pirates released the ship voluntarily after the federal government facilitated a ransom payment of approximately $2.5 million. Puntland President Saeed Abdullahi Deni further accused Turkey of killing civilians in airstrikes on August 18 and 20.

The incident occurs amid a broader resurgence of piracy in the region. The International Maritime Organization reports that over 90 seafarers are currently held captive across six different vessels.