Puntland Acting President and Vice President Ilyaas Cismaan Osman Lugatoor held talks with Indonesia’s ambassador to Somalia, Witjaksono Adji, in Garowe on Monday, October 5, 2026, with maritime security and the fight against piracy featuring prominently in discussions between the two sides.
Lugatoor received the Indonesian delegation at his office in Garowe, where the two sides discussed ways of strengthening cooperation between Puntland and Indonesia.
The meeting came at a significant moment for maritime security off the Somali coast, following a series of operations by Puntland security forces targeting pirates who had seized commercial vessels in the region.
According to a statement issued following the meeting, Indonesia congratulated Puntland on its operations against piracy and expressed appreciation for the efforts that resulted in the rescue of Indonesian nationals.
The Indonesian ambassador also thanked Puntland for the manner in which the rescued citizens were treated after their release, highlighting the relationship between the maritime-security operations and the safety of Indonesian nationals caught up in piracy incidents.
The Indonesian delegation was led by Ambassador Witjaksono Adji, while Puntland’s side included Lugatoor and Director-General of the Puntland Presidency Carshe Maxamed Siciid.
The talks followed a particularly turbulent period along Somalia’s coastline, where piracy has made a marked return after years of decline.
One of the major incidents involved the MT Honour 25, a Palau-flagged oil tanker seized off Somalia in April. Four Indonesian nationals were among its crew, prompting Jakarta to engage in sustained diplomatic efforts to secure their safety.
On April 30, Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry said the four Indonesian crew members aboard the tanker were in good condition while negotiations and coordination with authorities in Somalia continued.
Indonesia later confirmed that it was communicating directly with the hijackers as it sought the safe release of its citizens. Foreign Minister Sugiono said on May 20 that Jakarta had been communicating with all relevant parties, including the pirates, while Indonesian diplomatic missions in Nairobi, Islamabad and Karachi were involved in the effort.
The prolonged hostage situation was eventually resolved during Puntland security operations in late September.
On September 29, Puntland forces rescued the MT Honour 25, although the operation was marked by the deaths of five crew members before the vessel was retaken. Puntland authorities said 16 suspected pirates were captured during the operation.
The incident has highlighted the renewed piracy threat in waters off Somalia. Al Jazeera, citing Somali authorities, reported on September 30 that the deaths appeared to be the first killings of crew members by Somali pirates in more than a decade.
The Honour 25 operation was not the only recent intervention by Puntland forces.
Puntland authorities have also reported operations involving other hijacked vessels, including MT Sibu 1 and MT Eureka, underscoring the renewed pressure on maritime authorities to prevent piracy from becoming entrenched once again.