Negotiations for the Release of 8 Egyptian Fishermen Abducted off the Coast of Somalia Fail

MOGADISHU – Negotiations aimed at securing the release of eight Egyptian fishermen abducted by Somali pirates have failed after the abductors withdrew from a preliminary agreement that had been reached.

According to El-Sayed El-Shazly, head of the Egyptian Maritime Officers Union, the negotiations have stalled after the abductors demanded additional ransom money.

The fishermen were aboard the oil tanker M/T Eureka, which was hijacked on May 2 while departing from the port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates and heading towards Yemen. The ship was reportedly seized with weapons, and is currently being held near the coast of Puntland.

Officials following this matter stated that a preliminary agreement to pay a ransom of two million dollars had been reached, but the abductors later withdrew from that agreement, demanding more money.

The families of the abducted fishermen have expressed strong concern, stating that hopes for their release have been delayed. Ahmed Shaaban, brother of the ship's captain, stated that the situation has reverted to where it initially began.

On the other hand, the Egyptian Maritime Officers Union confirmed that all the fishermen are still alive, with some being able to briefly contact their families.

On May 18, the pirates released a video showing the fishermen with their hands and eyes bound, while warning shots were fired near them, causing great fear among their families.

The M/T Eureka, which is 88 meters long, sails under the flag of Togo and is owned by a company based in the United Arab Emirates. Reports indicate that the ship was seized in the waters off Yemen before being redirected to the coast of Somalia.

This incident comes at a time when piracy incidents in the waters off Somalia have increased since the end of 2023. Security experts attribute the rise in these attacks to a decrease in international naval patrols, after some naval forces were redeployed to operations in the Red Sea.

Additionally, in April of this year, the oil tanker Honor 25 was attacked in the same area, highlighting the growing concerns regarding the security of commercial vessels navigating the region's waterways.