Dar es Salaam – The body of Mchama Marigese Mongo, a seafarer who was killed when his ship was bombed in the Strait of Hormuz, arrived at Julius Nyerere International Airport on May 18, 2026.
Mongo died on May 3, 2026, while serving aboard the Volans, a tugboat registered under the flag of the United Arab Emirates with the International Maritime Organisation number 929856. The vessel was attacked while navigating the strategic waterway between Iran and Oman.
Musa Mandia, speaking on behalf of the Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation (TASAC), expressed condolences to the family and thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation for facilitating the repatriation.
Mandia used the occasion to remind authorities and shipowners of the dangers of operating in conflict zones. He noted that international conventions stipulate that people should not be sent to war zones without extra protection, urging employers to ensure the safety of their crews.
Mongo’s younger brother, Abdulkarim Marigese Mongo, recounted their last conversation during the beginning of Ramadan, when Mongo mentioned he would be travelling to Dubai for work.
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Mongo, who began his seafaring career years ago and was the eldest sibling, leaves behind a family including five children. His brother described him as a compassionate advisor who often resolved family issues.
The attack on the Volans occurred amid the 2026 Iran War, which began on February 28, 2026, when the United States and Israel launched surprise airstrikes on Iranian military and government sites.
The strikes, which assassinated Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, were launched during negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear programme. In retaliation, Iran launched hundreds of drones and ballistic missiles at Israel, US bases, and US-allied Arab countries.
As part of its response, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime passage that links the Persian Gulf to global shipping routes and handles roughly 20 per cent of global oil trade. Iranian forces have attacked numerous ships, laid sea mines, and established the “Persian Gulf Strait Authority” to regulate vessel passage.
Ebrahim Jabari, a senior adviser to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander-in-chief, warned that any vessel attempting to pass through the closed strait would be set ablaze.
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The conflict has severely disrupted global trade and energy markets, causing the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market. The United States initiated a naval blockade of Iran and launched “Project Freedom” to guide stranded vessels, though the operation was paused in early May amid peace talks mediated by Pakistan.
The pause notwithstanding, the situation remains volatile in the region generally and around the Strait of Hormuz in particular.
