Talks to Free 8 Egyptian Sailors Hit Deadlock Over Ransom Dispute
Families of eight Egyptian sailors held by Somali pirates are growing increasingly concerned as negotiations for their release have stalled over a dispute about who should pay the ransom. The sailors have been held for nearly four months after the M/T Eureka was hijacked off Yemen and taken towards Somalia.
CAIRO/MOGADISHU, Somalia (Somali Report) — Families of eight Egyptian sailors held aboard a hijacked tanker off the coast of Somalia are facing mounting anxiety as nearly four months have passed since the vessel was seized and taken towards waters controlled by Somali pirates.
The sailors were among the crew of the M/T Eureka, a fuel tanker hijacked on May 2, 2026, in waters off Yemen before being diverted towards Somalia, particularly the waters off Puntland, according to reports on the case.
Negotiations aimed at securing the sailors' release are still under way, but efforts have reportedly been hampered by a dispute over who should pay the ransom demanded by the pirates.
Captain Al-Sayyid Al-Shaadhili, head of Egypt's maritime officers' association, said the vessel's owners wanted insurance companies to assume responsibility for the ransom payment, while insurers were reluctant to do so.
The dispute has delayed efforts to reach an agreement that could end the sailors' captivity, according to people familiar with the negotiations.
The families of the sailors say they have received little information about the condition of their relatives or when they might be released.
Nadia Abdelsalam, the wife of sailor Ahmed Mahmoud Saad, said there had been no significant update on her husband's situation.
Her family's distress deepened last week when Ahmed's father died suddenly of a heart attack without having the opportunity to speak with his son or learn about his condition.
"Families are living through an extremely difficult period because they do not know what is happening to their relatives or when they will return home," people close to the families said.
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The reported seizure of the Eureka and the prolonged captivity of its Egyptian crew come amid renewed concerns over piracy in waters off Somalia.
Somali piracy declined sharply for years following the deployment of international naval forces, improved security measures and the adoption of anti-piracy procedures by commercial shipping companies.
But recent incidents have raised fears that pirate networks could be rebuilding their capabilities, exploiting security gaps and political divisions and taking advantage of reduced international maritime patrols.
The waters off Puntland have historically been a major operating area for Somali pirate groups, who have used coastal communities and remote stretches of shoreline to hold hijacked vessels and crews while negotiating ransom payments.
The resurgence of piracy has also raised concerns among shipping companies and international maritime organisations, particularly as commercial vessels continue to navigate the Gulf of Aden and waters linking the Red Sea with the Indian Ocean.
The families of the eight Egyptian sailors are now urging the parties involved in the negotiations to resolve their differences and secure the crew's release.
With the sailors approaching four months in captivity, relatives fear that further delays could worsen the physical and psychological toll on the hostages.
The case also highlights the continuing risks faced by seafarers operating in waters around Somalia, where piracy, armed conflict and instability have continued to threaten maritime security despite years of international efforts to suppress pirate attacks.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.