Egypt coordinates with Somalia to secure swift release of hijacked sailors

Tuesday May 19, 2026

Egypt on Monday pressed Somali authorities to step up efforts to free Egyptian sailors seized aboard the oil tanker M/T Eureka, as the crisis continues to draw concern in Cairo.

During a meeting in Cairo with Somali Ambassador Ali Abdi Awari, Assistant Foreign Minister for African Affairs Mohamed Karim Sherif stressed the urgency of protecting the detained citizens and securing their release as quickly as possible.

Awari, for his part, briefed Sherif on Mogadishu’s ongoing high-level contacts and the steps under way to bring the hostage ordeal to a safe conclusion.

The two diplomats also discussed Egypt’s wider strategic efforts to support Somalia’s unity and preserve its territorial integrity.

Sherif reaffirmed Cairo’s commitment to backing the Somali federal government as it works to extend state authority across the country, part of a broader push to counter terrorism and lay the groundwork for sustainable development.

The conversation further turned to maritime security in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, two vital corridors for regional and global trade.

Both sides agreed on the need for Arab and African coastal states to coordinate their positions, while underscoring that security arrangements in these waters should remain solely in the hands of neighboring littoral countries.