Suspected pirates have hijacked a Yemeni-flagged fishing boat off Durdura, near Eyl in Puntland—a semi-autonomous region in northeastern Somalia.
The European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) in Somalia said the boat, carrying a crew of eight Somali nationals, was seized.
According to EUNAVFOR, seven hijackers remain on board, and the incident is under investigation, classified as a hijack.
“We are monitoring the event and coordinating with the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) and the Yemeni Coast Guard,” EUNAVFOR said.
This follows the pirate attack on the Yemeni-flagged dhow SAYTUUN-2, which was released on 24 February.
The incident also marks the third hijacking, following the capture of a Chinese-owned vessel with 18 crew members in November.
The boat and its crew were rescued two months later, in January, as reported by the Chinese embassy in Mogadishu.
Somalia has struggled with piracy for years, peaking in 2011 when the UN recorded over 160 attacks off its coast.
Piracy attacks have since declined due to U.S. and allied naval patrols in the waters of Somalia.
