مصر تعلن الإفراج عن 8 بحارة مختطفين على متن ناقلة «M/T Eureka» في الصومال

The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the release of 8 Egyptian sailors who were kidnapped aboard the oil tanker M/T Eureka off the coast of Puntland in Somalia, following intensive Egyptian diplomatic efforts and communications to resolve the crisis and ensure the sailors' safety.

The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in an official statement today (Wednesday) that the release came based on the directives of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, with continuous follow-up from the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Egyptians abroad, Dr. Badr Abdel-Aty, along with high-level communications he conducted with officials in Somalia and Yemen.

Instructions to Facilitate the Return of the Sailors to Egypt

The official spokesperson for the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Nader Zaki, stated that Minister Badr Abdel-Aty directed the Egyptian embassy in Mogadishu to receive the eight Egyptian sailors, check on their condition, and work to facilitate their return to Egypt on the next available flight.

He added that the consular sector at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs met in the past period with the families of the kidnapped sailors to continuously inform them about the efforts and actions being taken to secure the release of their relatives.

The Egyptian embassy in Mogadishu also facilitated communications between the sailors and their families during the kidnapping period, allowing their relatives to check on them and follow up on their situation.

Details of the Kidnapping of the M/T Eureka

The incident dates back to May 2, 2026, when the oil tanker M/T Eureka was hijacked while sailing in the area near the Yemeni coast, before being taken to Somali territorial waters near Puntland.

There were 8 Egyptian sailors on board the ship, and the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced from the beginning of the crisis that it was closely monitoring their situation, directing the Egyptian embassy in Mogadishu to provide support and assistance to them and communicate with the Somali authorities to expedite their release. Masrawy.com

During the detention period, Cairo continued its communications with the Somali and Yemeni authorities and relevant parties, while the Egyptian embassy in Mogadishu monitored the sailors' conditions and provided them with a means to communicate with their families.

Egyptian Efforts to Resolve the Crisis

The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced last June that it was continuing daily and intensive follow-up on the incident of the ship's hijacking, making high-level contacts with the relevant Somali authorities, as well as communicating with the Yemeni authorities and the ship's owner, with the aim of ensuring the sailors' safety, providing them with suitable living conditions, and expediting their release.

The release of the eight Egyptian sailors marks the end of a crisis that lasted several months, with the Egyptian embassy in Mogadishu taking over the necessary procedures to facilitate their return to Egypt.