Who Governs Somalia’s Seas? Piracy, Foreign Force and the Political Economy of Maritime Disorder

By Abdisaid M. Ali

Reports of a possible Turkish strike against suspected hijackers along Puntland’s coast present a dangerous test of Somalia’s sovereignty. The M/V LUTUF was reportedly seized 3.5 nautical miles off Marraya. Turkish vessels approached the area as aircraft maintained surveillance. An airstrike later killed four people, wounding two. Responsibility for the strike remains open, as does the victims’ involvement.

Location determines the governing law. At 3.5 nautical miles, the seizure falls under Somali jurisdiction as armed robbery at sea. International piracy authority applies beyond national jurisdiction. Turkey’s 2026 naval mandate likewise applies beyond Somalia’s territorial waters. Public reporting identifies the seizure location; the strike location awaits confirmation.

A foreign use of force within Somalia requires valid Somali consent, Security Council authority or lawful self defence. The conduct of any operation then engages necessity, proportionality, protection of life and public accountability. Public reporting has yet to identify the legal basis or authorising institution. Confirmation of Turkish responsibility would therefore raise a direct question about who authorised foreign force, under what limits and through which mechanism of accountability. Sovereignty becomes real when national institutions control these decisions.