Eight Egyptian sailors who were held captive for 151 days off the coast of Somalia have returned to Cairo, reunifying with their families in an emotional welcome. The sailors, who were released on Wednesday, were received by Egyptian Ambassador to Somalia Mohamed Salah in Mogadishu, where they were accommodated at the embassy before their journey to Cairo. Their return was made possible through Egyptian diplomatic efforts.
The sailors were part of the crew of the M/T Eureka, a tanker that was seized by armed men on May 2 near Yemen and forced towards Somalia's Puntland region. The crew consisted of eight Egyptians and four Indians. Negotiations for their release had suffered setbacks, including a demand for a higher ransom payment by the hijackers in June.
Adham Salem Shaaban Gaber, 35, one of the sailors, met his five-month-old daughter, Tia, for the first time after his return to Alexandria. His daughter was born three days after his abduction. Gaber expressed his joy at being reunited with his family, saying his return had "brought life back to my body." His neighbors welcomed him with fireworks and flares.
Sameh Abdel-Azim, another sailor, returned to his hometown in Menoufiya and expressed relief at being back in Egypt. He described his captivity as resembling "scenes from horror films," with experiences of hunger, humiliation, and water shortages. Abdel-Azim thanked the Egyptian government and embassy for their efforts in securing his release.
The sailors recounted their experiences during captivity, including waking up to gunfire and being allowed to make calls to relatives to pressure families into raising ransom money. Ahmed Mahmoud said the captors tightly controlled the crew's movements, requiring permission before anyone could move and threatening immediate punishment for disobedience.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty played a key role in overseeing contacts with Somali authorities to secure the sailors' freedom. In August, he reported that Somalia was maintaining daily contact with the kidnappers. On September 7, Abdelatty urged Somali authorities to accelerate efforts to free the Egyptians and ensure their safety.
The released sailors were transferred to Mogadishu, where the Egyptian embassy arranged their onward journey home. Upon their return, they were welcomed by their families at Cairo Airport before traveling to their hometowns. The Egyptian government and embassy were credited with coordinating their release and return.
Key points
- The eight Egyptian sailors were held captive for 151 days off Somalia's coast before being released and returned home.
- The sailors were part of the crew of the M/T Eureka, which was seized by armed men on May 2 near Yemen.
- Egyptian diplomatic efforts led to the release of the sailors, with Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty playing a key role in the negotiations.
