Egypt has urged Somalia to intensify efforts to secure the release of eight Egyptian sailors held for months aboard the hijacked MT Eureka off the Somali coast.
CAIRO, Egypt (Somali Report) — Egypt has urged Somalia to intensify efforts to secure the release of eight Egyptian sailors who have been held for months aboard a hijacked vessel off the Somali coast, the Egyptian foreign ministry said.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty raised the issue with his Somali counterpart, Abdulsalam Abdi Ali, during a meeting in Cairo on Monday on the sidelines of a ministerial session of the Arab League.
Abdelatty called on the Somali government to continue engaging with all parties involved and take further steps to ensure the safety and release of the Egyptian crew members, according to the ministry.
The eight sailors are being held aboard the MT Eureka, a vessel hijacked earlier this year and subsequently taken towards waters off Somalia, according to Egyptian authorities.
Cairo has been pursuing diplomatic efforts in recent months to resolve the crisis, holding contacts with officials in Somalia and Yemen as well as the ship's owner.
Egypt's foreign ministry said last week that it was maintaining intensive contacts with relevant authorities in Somalia and Yemen in an effort to secure the sailors' release as quickly as possible.
The ministry said the safety and welfare of the Egyptian nationals remained a priority and that efforts were continuing to ensure they received adequate living conditions until they could return home.
The fate of the sailors has renewed concerns about maritime insecurity off Somalia, where piracy had declined significantly from its peak more than a decade ago but has shown signs of resurgence in recent years.
Details about the circumstances of the MT Eureka's seizure, including the identity of those holding the vessel and their demands, were not immediately available.
Somalia's government has repeatedly pledged to combat piracy and strengthen maritime security, often with the support of international partners. However, the country's long coastline and limited capacity to patrol its territorial waters have created challenges for efforts to prevent attacks on commercial shipping.
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The issue of the detained sailors was among several matters discussed during the meeting between the Egyptian and Somali foreign ministers.
Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt's support for Somalia's unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to the Egyptian foreign ministry.
He said Cairo opposed any unilateral measures that could undermine Somalia's sovereignty or threaten its territorial integrity.
Egypt has strengthened its political and security ties with Somalia in recent years and has expanded its support for the federal government in Mogadishu.
The Egyptian foreign minister also reiterated the need for sustained international funding for the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, known as AUSSOM, in which Egypt is a participating country.
The mission is supporting Somali security forces as they battle Al-Shabaab, an Islamist armed group that remains active across parts of southern and central Somalia.
The two ministers also discussed ways to expand strategic cooperation between their countries, particularly in the fields of trade, economic development and investment.
Egypt's renewed appeal over the eight sailors underscores Cairo's growing diplomatic engagement with Somalia, while highlighting the continuing threat posed by maritime insecurity along one of Africa's most strategically important coastlines.
No immediate comment was available from Somali authorities on Egypt's latest request.
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.
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