Malé, Jan 6, 2022, SPA -- The Government of Maldives strongly condemns the piracy and hijacking of a UAE-flagged cargo ship by Houthi Militia, off the shore of Al-Hudaydah, Yemen, on 3rd January 2022. These acts of maritime piracy and hijacking are serious threats to the freedom of navigation, global trade and a violation of international law. The continuation of such attacks also hinders the ongoing peace efforts by the concerned parties and the international community to resolve the conflicts in the region. The Government of Maldives denounces all such acts threatening the safety and stability of maritime navigation and urges the international community to assume its responsibility to guarantee the safety of maritime navigation and confront all attempts to undermine international peace and security. --SPA 20:41 LOCAL TIME 17:41 GMT 0019 www.spa.gov.sa/w1674878