Egypt announces release of eight sailors kidnapped off Somalia

Egypt successfully secured the release of eight Egyptian seafarers who had been held captive aboard the oil tanker M/T Eureka for several months off Somalia's Puntland region, according to the country's Foreign Ministry. The sailors were in good health and preparations were underway for their repatriation to Egypt, the ministry reported.

The Foreign Minister, Badr Abdelatty, directed the Egyptian embassy in Mogadishu to receive the sailors, assess their well-being, and expedite their return on the next available flight, stated ministry spokesman Nader Zaki. The release was a result of President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi's directives and persistent high-level contacts between Abdelatty and Somali and Yemeni officials, according to the ministry.

The seafarers were on board the M/T Eureka when it was hijacked on May 2 whilst sailing near the Yemeni coast, after which the vessel was taken into Somali waters near Puntland, as per Egyptian authorities. Egypt had been collaborating with Somali and Yemeni authorities, and other entities involved in the case, to secure the sailors' freedom and ensure their safety during captivity.

The ministry's consular department had also held meetings with the sailors' families during the crisis to keep them updated on the diplomatic efforts. Egypt's embassy in Mogadishu played a crucial role in maintaining communication between the sailors and their families, enabling updates on the sailors' condition. In June, the ministry confirmed that they were monitoring the case daily and engaging in high-level discussions with Somali authorities, Yemeni officials, and the vessel's owner, all aimed at ensuring the sailors' safety, providing adequate living conditions during captivity, and expediting their release.

The Egyptian embassy in Mogadishu will now finalize the required procedures for the sailors to return home, concluding a nearly five-month ordeal.