Egypt Steps Up Diplomatic Efforts To Free 8 Sailors Held On Hijacked MT Eureka Off Somalia

Egypt has stepped up diplomatic efforts to secure the release of eight Egyptian sailors held aboard the hijacked cargo vessel MT Eureka, which has remained under pirate control off the Somali coast since early May.

Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has ordered round-the-clock monitoring of the incident and instructed the Egyptian Embassy in Mogadishu to stay in close contact with Somali authorities and other relevant agencies to help secure the sailors’ safe release.

The ministry said the embassy is also working to ensure the detained Egyptian crew members have suitable living conditions while they remain on board. It has also helped the sailors stay in touch with their families to reassure them about their well-being.

At the same time, Egypt’s embassy in Riyadh, which is accredited to the Yemeni government, has been directed to coordinate with Yemeni authorities and the vessel’s owner to speed up efforts to free the crew and ensure their welfare.

Abdelatty has also instructed the ministry’s consular sector to hold regular meetings with the families of the abducted sailors and keep them updated on the government’s efforts.

The MT Eureka was hijacked in early May while sailing near Puntland off the Somali coast. The vessel has remained anchored off Somalia since it was seized by armed pirates.

The ship has a crew of 22, including eight Egyptians. There are also several Indian sailors on board.

Last week, Captain El-Sayed El-Shazly El-Naggar, head of Egypt’s Maritime Officers Syndicate and liaison officer with the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), said negotiations with the hijackers had broken down after the pirates reportedly demanded a higher ransom, sending the talks “back to square one.”

Egypt said it has been working with Somali authorities, the vessel’s owner and relevant international organisations since the hijacking to secure the crew’s safe release.

According to the families, the Egyptian crew members being held are third engineer Mohamed Radi Abdel Moneim Al-Mahasab, officer Moamen Akram Mokhtar Amin, chief engineer Mahmoud Galal Abdullah Al-Mekawy, sailor Sameh Abdel Azim El-Desouky El-Sayed, mechanic Aslam Adel Abdel Monsef Selim, electrical engineer Mohamed Ahmed Abdullah, welder Ahmed Mahmoud Saad Ismail Darwish, and cook Adham Salem Shaaban Gaber.

The families have also called on Egyptian authorities and relevant international organisations to work with naval forces operating in the region and engage with the ship’s owner or negotiate with the hijackers to secure the sailors’ safe return.

References: dailynewsegypt, ahramonline