Written by: Badr Ahmed

The Ambassador of the Republic received Somalia The Federation met with Ali Abdi Awari, Assistant Egyptian Foreign Minister for African Affairs, to discuss and follow up on efforts to release the kidnapped Egyptian sailors on board the oil tanker M/T Eureka.

The meeting comes as part of ongoing efforts to monitor the situation of Egyptian citizens abroad, particularly in African countries, and in implementation of the directives of the Egyptian Foreign Minister, where emphasis was placed on the importance of joint coordination and accelerating efforts aimed at ensuring the safety of sailors and their safe return to their homeland.

Earlier, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it was following with great concern the hijacking of the oil tanker M/T Eureka after it was forcibly taken from Yemeni territorial waters to Somali territorial waters near Puntland, in an incident that highlights the escalating risks of piracy in one of the most sensitive maritime routes for global trade.

Details of the incident and the kidnapping route

According to initial information, the tanker was subjected to an armed takeover while crossing near the entrance to the Bab al-Mandab Strait on its way to its destination, before its course was forcibly changed towards the Somali coast.

This route is a vital artery linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, which increases the sensitivity of the incident and its potential impact on the security of international navigation.

Egyptian sailors on board the ship

The biggest concern is that there are eight Egyptian sailors among the ship's crew, and the families of some of them have confirmed receiving information that the crew has been detained, prompting them to appeal to the authorities to act quickly to ensure their safety.

It is estimated that the kidnapping was carried out in an organized manner that reflects the experience of those who carried it out in the nature of navigation in the region.

Urgent Egyptian diplomatic move

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aty directed the Egyptian Embassy in Mogadishu to monitor the situation around the clock, and to communicate with the Somali authorities and relevant parties to ensure the safety of the sailors and to work towards their swift release.

Cairo stressed that the issue is a top priority within its efforts to protect citizens abroad.