Mogadishu:Egypt: Eight Egyptian sailors who had been held captive since May 2, 2026, off the coast of Somalia's Puntland region have been released. The sailors were aboard the M/T Eureka when they were seized. The release was achieved on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, following extensive diplomatic efforts by Egypt's foreign ministry.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the release came after directives from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, who instructed authorities to make every effort to free the kidnapped sailors. Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty played a crucial role by maintaining continuous communication with Somali and Yemeni officials to facilitate the release.

The foreign ministry statement included that Ambassador Nader Zaki, the ministry's spokesman, noted Abdelatty's instructions to Egypt's embassy in Mogadishu to receive the sailors, ensure their well-being, and arrange for their swift return to Egypt. Throughout their captivity, the ministry kept the sailors' families informed about the efforts being made to secure their release. Additionally, the embassy in Mogadishu enabled communication between the sailors and their families.

From the outset of the hijacking incident, Egypt closely monitored the situation. The Togo-flagged tanker was directed towards Puntland after being seized. In July, Foreign Minister Abdelatty called on Somali authorities to hasten the sailors' release and safeguard their welfare. By August, he reported that Somali authorities were in daily contact with the captors, leveraging relationships with local tribes to aid in the sailors' release.

On September 3, the foreign ministry reiterated its commitment to ongoing diplomatic efforts, which included dialogues with Somali and Yemeni authorities as well as the vessel's owner. The successful release of the sailors follows another diplomatic achievement, with Egypt recently securing the return of a doctor detained in the Maldives through similar diplomatic and consular measures.