Yemen’s Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Fisheries, Lt. Gen. Salem Abdullah Al-Soqtari, confirmed that the Ministry is closely following the case of the Yemeni fishermen detained in Puntland.
The Minister stressed the need for their immediate and unconditional release, and for them to return safely to their homeland, so that they can be reunited with their families.
Al-Soqtari indicated that the Ministry, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant agencies, is making strong efforts to follow up on this case at all levels.
He said that the arrested fishermen were engaged in their maritime activities and were making progress in their usual fishing grounds, which have been visited by Yemeni fishermen for decades.
This follows a meeting at the Ministry’s headquarters with Engineer Yaslam Said Babalghum, Chairman of the Arabian Sea Fisheries Authority, who briefed him on the situation of Yemeni fishermen detained by the Puntland Administration in Somalia.
Minister Socotri ordered the Chairman of the Arabian Sea Fisheries Authority to prepare an urgent and comprehensive report on the case of the detained fishermen and the circumstances that led to their arrest, so that the Ministry can contact all relevant parties to secure their release.
Al-Socotri expressed his satisfaction with the social relations between the citizens of the two countries and the common interests that unite them, he noted the good conduct, treatment, and facilities provided to Somali fishermen who come to their country in a similar manner to the treatment of Yemeni fishermen.
It is worth noting that a few days ago, Puntland security agencies arrested 26 Yemeni fishermen and their boat, despite mutual understandings and protocol agreements to control fishing between the two countries.
