Eight Egyptian sailors, who had been held since May 2nd aboard the M/T Eureka—a vessel seized off the coast of Puntland—have been released, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty instructed the Egyptian Embassy in Mogadishu to receive the sailors, verify their health and safety, and facilitate their return to Egypt on the first available flight.
The Ministry stated that its consular department had previously met with the sailors’ families to update them on the efforts being made to secure their release.
During their captivity, the Egyptian Embassy in Mogadishu also facilitated communication between the sailors and their families, allowing the families to stay informed about their condition.
Egypt stated that their release followed directives from President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and continuous follow-up on the case by the Foreign Minister, which included high-level contacts with Somali and Yemeni officials.