Secret deal raises questions over fate of Turkish arms shipment seized off Somalia
SANAA, Aug. 28 (YPA) – A secret deal whose details have not been disclosed has raised questions over the fate of a vessel carrying Turkish weapons and equipment off the coast of Somalia, as negotiations are taking place alongside deadly airstrikes near the stronghold of the suspected hijackers in Puntland.
In a notable development, informed sources told Somalia Now that an agreement had been reached between the Turkish side and a group suspected of involvement in the seizure of the cargo ship Lotov off the coast of Nugal in Puntland, northeastern Somalia. The deal reportedly calls for the group members to leave the vessel within the coming hours.
However, the terms of the agreement remain unclear. Authorities have yet to disclose whether the deal includes the payment of a ransom, and the reported release operation could not be independently verified.
Local reports had previously said that the hijackers were demanding a ransom, without confirming whether an agreement had been reached, leaving the fate of the vessel and its crew uncertain.
Turkish Military Cargo Raises Sensitivity
According to information cited by the Associated Press from a Somali official, the Lotov, which flies the Cameroonian flag, was carrying Turkish weapons, communications equipment and satellite equipment intended for a Turkish military training facility in the Somali capital, Mogadishu.
Armed men seized the vessel on August 17, about 3.5 nautical miles from the Maraya area of Puntland’s Eyl district, before taking it toward the Nugal coast.
The vessel has a crew of 10, including six Indians, one Turkish national and one Georgian, along with two Serbian security guards. According to Associated Press information, the vessel is owned by Polar Movement Shipping.
Mysterious Airstrikes Surround Vessel Case
The negotiations came amid a notable security escalation along the Puntland coast, following a series of airstrikes targeting boats and sites near the area where the vessel was taken.
Puntland officials accused Turkey of carrying out two strikes that they said killed at least 13 people, including individuals whom local authorities identified as fishermen.
The Associated Press, however, reported that an airstrike targeted a small boat that had returned from supplying the hijackers with provisions. Initial information indicated that four people were killed and two wounded, while the identity of the force behind the strike remained unknown.
Local reports also said nine people were killed in a subsequent strike near Jifli in Nugal, with no country or military force claiming responsibility.
Ankara Enters the Crisis
In Turkey’s latest position, reports on Friday said the Turkish Defense Ministry had confirmed that it was providing “necessary support” to Somali authorities following the hijacking, in coordination with the Foreign Ministry.
Ankara has not claimed responsibility for the disputed airstrikes, leaving the identity of those who carried them out one of the most significant unanswered questions surrounding the case.
The latest developments suggest that the Lotov case is no longer simply a commercial vessel hijacking, but has become a sensitive intersection of piracy, Turkish military shipping, Somali maritime security and unexplained airstrikes.
Resurgence of Somali Piracy Raises Concerns
The incident comes amid signs of a resurgence in vessel hijackings off the Somali coast and in the Gulf of Aden in 2026, with several commercial vessels reportedly seized.
As attention turns to the coming hours to determine whether the agreement will actually lead to the hijackers leaving the vessel and its release, the terms of the deal, the fate of the military cargo and the identity of those behind the airstrikes remain the key unresolved issues surrounding the Lotov crisis.
Report Examines Turkey’s Presence in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean
Turkey Uses Anti-Piracy Mission Leadership to Expand Influence in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean
Amid the ongoing conflict in Yemen and competition among regional and international powers for control of strategic waterways and chokepoints in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean, Turkey has entered the arena, seeking to establish a foothold in the region in pursuit of its own interests and a broader project to expand its influence.
According to observers, Turkey is using its leadership of the Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151), an international maritime force tasked with combating piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, which Turkey assumed in June, to deploy additional forces to the Red Sea. The latest is a frigate that Turkey has announced will arrive in the Gulf of Aden by September.
Observers say Turkey’s presence in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean is not new, dating back to 2011, when Ankara took advantage of instability in Somalia to extend assistance to the Somali government through humanitarian projects and aid. These efforts later paved the way for military cooperation between the two countries, eventually leading to the establishment in October 2017 of Turkey’s largest overseas military base, located about 10 kilometers southwest of Mogadishu and covering an estimated four square kilometers overlooking the Indian Ocean.
According to the observers, Turkey is now seeking to replicate its experience in Somalia in Yemen by following similar steps.
Since early 2018, Turkish humanitarian involvement in Yemen has expanded, which observers say served as a precursor to broader Turkish roles whose outlines are becoming increasingly apparent.
Since early 2018, Turkey’s health and development agencies have opened 11 health centers in areas of Yemen controlled by the Saudi-backed government, with a combined capacity of 250,000 patients annually, in addition to dozens of other health facilities. Turkey has also expanded humanitarian assistance through the Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation in Marib, Seiyun and several areas in southern Yemen.
Observers further argue that Turkey is exploiting the rift between the Islah Party and the Saudi-led coalition to extend support to the party, potentially including military assistance, particularly in southwestern Taiz overlooking the Bab al-Mandab Strait. They say Turkey is seeking to establish a military base in the area, which would further strengthen its regional influence, particularly given its existing military base overlooking the Indian Ocean in Mogadishu.