Equatorial Guinea: Pirates attack two merchant vessels off Bioko Island May 9

Event

On Monday, May 11, the Equatorial Guinean government announced that five individuals were kidnapped in the attack of two merchant vessels off the coasts of Bioko Island on Saturday, May 9. According to the statement, the first incident took place two nautical miles off Malabo, during which two Russian crewmembers were abducted and a further two seriously injured. The second incident took place at Luba anchorage where three crewmembers - two Russian nationals and one Equatorial Guinean - were reportedly kidnapped. As of Tuesday, May 12, the whereabouts of the victims remain unknown. Equatorial Guinean and Cameroonian security forces have deployed units in order to secure the area and find the perpetrators.

Further piracy incidents are possible in the near term

Context

The Gulf of Guinea has been a hotspot for piracy incidents over the past decade. According to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), between January and September 2019, 82 percent of world-wide piracy-linked attacks took place in the Gulf of Guinea. Pirates usually kidnap crew for ransom or steal the vessel's merchandise.

Advice

Maritime travelers in the region are advised to remain vigilant for suspicious approaches while aboard vessels, monitor developments to the regional security environment, and report all incidents to the nearest authorities. Pirates and other criminals are often armed; do not resist if confronted.