By Abdullahi Salad - Reporter
Egypt, 12 May 2026 An oil tanker carrying Egyptian sailors was hijacked near the Somali coast and diverted toward waters off Puntland, Egypt’s Foreign Affairs Ministry on Monday.
The oil tanker, M/T Eureka, was seized from Yemeni regional waters and taken toward Somali territorial waters near Puntland, the ministry said in a statement.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty instructed Egypt’s embassy in Mogadishu to closely monitor the situation of the Egyptian sailors aboard the vessel and provide all necessary support and assistance, the statement added..
The ministry added that Egyptian authorities were maintaining communication at the highest levels with Somali authorities to ensure the safety and release of the Egyptian crew members.
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Egypt did not immediately provide details on the number of sailors aboard the vessel or identify the group responsible for the hijacking.
Somali waters, particularly those near Puntland and the Gulf of Aden, have recently faced threats related to piracy and maritime security, as they are located close to key international trade routes.
Somali authorities have not yet publicly commented on the reported hijacking.