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- Sierra Leone on Thursday declared its dedication to working alongside different West African nations to extra successfully combat in opposition to piracy within the Gulf of Guinea.
- The renewed anti-piracy push follows the hijacking of the Shenghai-2, a Chinese language fishing vessel from which 23 hostages needed to be rescued.
- The Gulf of Guinea, a infamous hub for piracy, is sometimes called one of many world’s most harmful our bodies of water.
Sierra Leone stated Thursday it’s working with neighboring international locations to step up the combat in opposition to piracy within the Gulf of Guinea after a Chinese language fishing vessel was hijacked in its waters earlier this week.
The world off the coast of West Africa is likely one of the world’s most harmful locations for assaults on ships.
Twenty-three crew members on board Shenghai-2, together with six Chinese language nationals, had been rescued a day after the hijacking on Sunday. The ship was crusing with one other fishing vessel, Aliman, when each got here below assault by closely armed pirates, Sierra Leone’s Navy Chief Commodore Philip Juana instructed The Associated Press.
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Aliman evaded seizure whereas the attackers sailed the hijacked vessel towards neighboring Liberia. The next day, the ship was freed and among the pirates had been caught by Liberian forces, Juana stated.
![Sierra Leonean flag](https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/07/sierra_leone_flag.jpg)
Sierra Leone is reportedly working alongside its West African neighbors to fight piracy after a Chinese language fishing vessel was hijacked within the Gulf of Guinea. (Picture by Mike Egerton/PA Pictures by way of Getty Pictures)
“We’re tips on how to curb the menace within the area,” he added. Sierra Leone officers will have interaction with counterparts in Liberia on future “operational technique” in opposition to piracy, he added.
PIRATES ATTACK SHIP AND HOLD CREW MEMBERS HOSTAGE OFF OF WEST AFRICA
In June final 12 months, the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a decision condemning piracy, armed theft and hostage-taking within the Gulf of Guinea. The world has recorded a minimum of three pirate assaults in latest months, together with in April, when pirates focused a Chinese language-run oil tanker.
In Liberia, the Ministry of Nationwide Protection stated in an earlier assertion the rescue effort lasted for greater than 24 hours and ended on Monday. It included a coordinated operation that additionally concerned the neighboring Cote d’Ivoire.
Two pirates had been arrested whereas some weapons had been recovered, the ministry stated. An unspecified variety of different pirates who had been concerned within the assault has evaded arrest.
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Juana, the navy chief, stated Sierra Leone and Liberia are investigating the hijacking.
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