(12-04-23) MOGADISHU – The Somali Navy and Coast Guard, in a recent operation, captured two Iranian boats fishing illegally off the coast of Somalia. According to Major General Mubarak Abdiqani Muse, Commander of the Somali Navy and Coastal Defense Forces, Iranian boats have been illegally fishing in Somali waters for more than three decades.
The federal government of Somalia has claimed the two captured boats as belonging to Iran after gathering sufficient information to bring the case to court. This operation comes amidst a broader effort by the Somali Navy to crack down on illegal fishing activities in the country’s territorial waters.
Last month, the Somali federal government issued a stern warning to foreign ships illegally fishing in the Somali Sea. The Ministry of Fisheries and the Blue Economy of the Federal Government of Somalia also urged countries with ships in Somali waters to leave the area as soon as possible.
Somalia has demanded that foreign countries return the property they have illegally taken from Somali waters, warning that they will face legal consequences otherwise. This incident highlights the determination of the Somali government to protect its maritime resources and enforce the rule of law in its national waters.
