Somalia: Pirates Threaten to Execute Egyptian, Indian Crew Over Ransom Delays

MOGADISHU — Growing fears are mounting over the safety of the crew of an oil tanker hijacked off the coast of Somalia, with family members revealing they have received direct death threats from the captors.

Relatives of the seafarers stated that negotiations for their release have hit a deadlock, and the hijackers have threatened to execute the crew members unless a demanded ransom is paid within a strict, short timeframe.

According to family members, twelve crewmen—comprising eight Egyptians and four Indians—face imminent danger as the criminal group escalates pressure to secure the financial payout.

The wife of one of the captive sailors told reporters that a previous agreement regarding the ransom amount fell through due to technical delays in wire transfer procedures, triggering anger among the captors.

She added that the heavily armed group has threatened to move some of the crew members inland to a remote mountainous region to mount psychological pressure on the ship owners, viewing the payment delay as a tactic to stall the ongoing talks.

Meanwhile, Egypt's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it is closely monitoring the situation, coordinating with the Egyptian Embassy in Mogadishu and relevant Somali federal authorities to secure the safe release of the crew.

Sources indicate that tensions flared further after the vessel's owner requested an extension to finalize the funds—a request flatly rejected by the hijackers, who threatened to take drastic measures against the hostages.

Maritime security experts noted that such severe threats are frequently used as psychological leverage to accelerate ransom deliveries. They pointed out that the current hijackers do not appear to match the highly structured, professional pirate networks that dominated the region in previous years.

Captain Sayed Al-Shadhali, head of the Egyptian Federation of Marine Officers, suggested that the messages sent by the captors are intended solely to twist the arms of the parties involved in the financial settlement.

He indicated that current indicators do not point to an immediate plan to execute the hostages, but rather constitute an aggressive push to wrap up the final stages of the negotiations.

Experts nonetheless warn that the recent resurgence of piracy incidents in this vital international shipping lane is closely tied to regional security instability, intensifying global concerns about the safety of commercial seafarers.

GAROWE ONLINE