Mogadishu says Somali and Turkish forces compelled the pirates to abandon the vessel, while Puntland claims a ransom secured its release.
MOGADISHU, Somalia — The hijacked cargo ship MV Lutuf and its crew have been freed off Somalia’s coast, but federal and Puntland authorities have issued conflicting accounts of how the vessel was released.
Somalia’s Ministry of Defence said Somali forces and the Turkish Navy recovered the Cameroon-flagged ship following a 10-day operation. The ministry said sustained military pressure forced the remaining hijackers to abandon the vessel.
According to the federal statement, four boats used by the pirates were destroyed and 14 suspected pirates were killed during the operation. Those claims have not been independently verified, and the ministry did not provide a detailed account of the fighting.
A local elder, Abdullahi Warsame, separately confirmed to the Associated Press that the vessel and its crew had been freed. Officials did not report any injuries among the crew.
Pirates seized the Turkish-owned vessel on August 17 near Eyl district in Puntland’s Nugaal region. Ten people were reportedly aboard: six Indian nationals, one Turkish citizen, one Georgian and two Serbian security guards.
The ship has resumed its journey, according to Somalia’s Defence Ministry.
However, Puntland’s Ministry of Security disputed the federal government’s account. It reportedly said no military rescue occurred and alleged that the pirates released the vessel after receiving a ransom.
Local reports placed the alleged payment at approximately $2.5 million, but neither Türkiye nor Somalia’s federal government has confirmed that a ransom was paid. The shipowner has also not publicly disclosed any payment.
The federal government said the operation was conducted under Somalia and Türkiye’s defence-cooperation agreement, which includes protecting Somalia’s coastline and combating piracy.
Türkiye is one of Somalia’s closest security partners. It operates a major military training facility in Mogadishu and has expanded its role in Somalia’s defence and maritime sectors.
An unnamed Somali official previously told the Associated Press that the Lutuf was carrying Turkish weapons, communications equipment and satellite systems intended for the Turkish military facility in Mogadishu. Türkiye has not publicly confirmed the cargo.
The competing accounts leave important questions unanswered, including whether force or payment secured the ship’s release and whether the federal government coordinated its actions with Puntland authorities.
The incident comes amid renewed concern about piracy off Somalia. Several commercial vessels have been seized in the region during 2026, placing seafarers and shipping routes through the Gulf of Aden and western Indian Ocean at greater risk.
The Lutuf’s release demonstrates the growing importance of Somalia–Türkiye maritime cooperation. However, the dispute between Mogadishu and Puntland also exposes the coordination problems that could weaken broader efforts to suppress piracy along Somalia’s extensive coastline.