Eight Egyptians held captive by pirates off Somalia freed after months-long ordeal

Eight Egyptian sailors, aboard the tanker MT Eureka, have been liberated following a months-long capture by pirates in the waters off Somalia. The incident occurred in early May when the vessel was hijacked by armed pirates while sailing in the Puntland region. The crew, consisting of 22 individuals, included eight Egyptians. Following the release, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty engaged in discussions with Somali and Yemeni officials to facilitate the sailors' return.

The Egyptian embassy in Mogadishu is set to receive the freed sailors, assess their health, and arrange their repatriation on the next available flight. Prior to their release, the ministry's consular team had been in contact with the sailors' families, providing updates on the progress of their rescue. However, negotiations with the pirates ended prematurely, as the hijackers demanded a higher ransom, causing the situation to revert to the initial stage of discussions.

Piracy off Somalia reached its peak in 2011, with 237 attacks reported, leading to global economic losses of approximately $7 billion and $160 million in ransom payments. Although the threat subsided due to international naval patrols and enhanced security in Somalia, pirate attacks have resurfaced in recent years, influenced by heightened instability in Red Sea shipping caused by attacks orchestrated by Yemen's Houthi rebels.