Pirate

The Liberian government has decried the rising problem of piracy and kidnapping in the Gulf of Guinea through the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA). Liberia has called for immediate global action to confront the West African threat.

In coastal waterways, pirate assaults and armed robberies against ships are common. Mariners must take the necessary measures. The appeal comes following a cruel and audacious pirate attack on the MOZART, a Liberian-flagged containership, on Saturday, January 23, 2021, roughly 100 nautical miles off the coast of Sao Tome and Principe, which resulted in the murder of one seafarer and the abduction of fifteen others.

The ship was boarded by four armed pirates at sea while sailing from Lagos, Nigeria to Cape Town, South Africa. This is the latest attack in an area that has become into the world's most hazardous river for commerce ships. Liberia's government and registry are working closely with shipowners and other parties to resolve the issue. LiMA will continue to engage closely with all relevant parties on this matter, including Nigeria's, Turkey's, and Azerbaijan's governments, as well as on the greater issue of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.