The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday that it is closely monitoring the hijacking of the oil tanker M/T Eureka, which was diverted to Somali territorial waters near the Puntland region with Egyptian sailors on board.
Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has instructed the Egyptian Embassy in Mogadishu to track the status of the sailors, provide all necessary support, and work toward their immediate release. He emphasized maintaining high-level communication with Somali authorities to ensure their safety and security.
Incident Details:
The incident dates back to 5:00 AM on May 2, occurring off the coast of the Shabwah Governorate in Yemen. Armed men, believed to be Somali pirates from Puntland, boarded the Togo-flagged tanker and seized control, redirecting it through the Gulf of Aden toward the Somali coast.
The tanker is carrying 2,800 tons of diesel and has a crew of 12 sailors of Egyptian and Indian nationalities, including at least eight Egyptians. The vessel’s location was later identified off the eastern coast of Somalia in the Puntland region (near Balla, Eyl, or Qandala).
Family Appeals and Negotiation Deadlock:
Families of the abducted sailors have issued urgent appeals for intervention. The brother of one crew member noted that the vessel’s owning company has reportedly halted negotiations with the hijackers and refused to pay the demanded ransom, significantly escalating the families’ concerns.
Rising Piracy Concerns:
This hijacking marks the fourth successful attack in approximately two weeks, amid growing international fears of a resurgence in Somali piracy within the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. Security reports have also hinted at potential links between these activities and Yemeni groups
