Somalia: Puntland frees second tanker from pirates

MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) troops have freed the Palau-flagged tanker MT Honour from Somali pirates in the Bandarbayla district, days after releasing the SIBU 1 tanker, in a fast-moving push against piracy off the regional coast, Daily Somalia reported on Tuesday. The MT Honour was chartered by Puntland businesspeople and hijacked […]

Sep 29, 2026 - 10:15

Somalia: Puntland frees second tanker from pirates

MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) troops have freed the Palau-flagged tanker MT Honour from Somali pirates in the Bandarbayla district, days after releasing the SIBU 1 tanker, in a fast-moving push against piracy off the regional coast, Daily Somalia reported on Tuesday.

The MT Honour was chartered by Puntland businesspeople and hijacked on April 21 while en route to the capital, Mogadishu.

The rescue was a planned operation. At least two pirates holding the vessel were injured, and all the others were arrested.

The operation came just days after Puntland forces freed SIBU 1 with assistance from Iraqi armed militias.

It also follows weeks after Puntland President Saeed Abdullahi Deni announced that his government would fight the pirates without mercy, as it had fought ISIS militants and dislodged them from vast, rugged, mountainous terrain in the Bari region.

The rescue was overshadowed on Saturday, when Caasimada Online reported that at least 19 pirates arrested in the SIBU 1 operation had escaped from a convoy carrying them to the regional capital, Garowe. The convoy was driving near Jariiban after the gunmen had first been taken from Garacad town.