Pirates Demand $10 Million in Ransom after Hijacking Chinese-owned Fishing Vessel with 18 Captives

The pirates who hijacked a Chinese-owned fishing vessel with 18 crew off the northeastern coast of Somalia last month are demanding $10 million in ransom, according to a Somali official. The hijackers also shared photos on social media of their captives surrounded by armed men on the ship’s deck. The vessel was hijacked in late November and taken to Xaafuun district in the semi-autonomous state of Puntland, where it is being held along with the captives. The ship’s security guards later joined forces with the armed men from the coastal region. A Somali government official said the vessel was issued with a fishing license by Puntland in 2020, but the license had expired…The hijacking underscores the persistent challenges of maritime security in Somalia’s waters. (AP)