German Cruising Couple Still Being Held Hostage in Somalia

Created by sue. Last modified on 2008-07-11 18:45:20
Topic: Piracy Reports 2008
Countries: Somalia

As reported by the Somali Press.

Seventeen days later, and the ordeal for the German sailors held hostage in Somalia is still not over.

For previous reports see:
Somali Pirates Double Ransom
Four Days Later and Pirated Demand US$1M
Sailing Family Siezed by Pirates

The Somali Press have published an update of the hostage situation today, warning "it is very difficult to provide coverage of piracy in Somalia, and this has been very much the case with the "German Tourists" who were abducted last month from the Gulf of Aden. As we've said previously, news is sparse and unreliable, and often one false report is quoted for weeks."

However, what they can now confirm is that there are two sailors, Mr. Jorgan K. (age 63) and Mrs. Sebina M. (age 51), who were abducted from their small yacht and dragged into the hills of Puntland, Somalia on Monday 23 June. They have been in contact with their families, the German Federal Police, and the German Embassy and told family members they were "well given the circumstances".

The hostages are currently being held in a remote area of the Badhan district of Sanaag. They were moved due to soldiers capturing the Las Qorey district, where the hostages were previously being kept.

An official with a Puntland-based human rights agency, Yusuf Ahmed Jama, was allowed to visit the Germans, and it was he who confirmed their identity. "I spoke and stayed with the hostages for two days," Mr. Jama told Radio Garowe. He went on to say that the pirates are a group of "trained and well-armed men who are not easy to approach," saying they only allowed him to visit because it was for a "humanitarian purpose."

Mr. Jama found that the 63 year old Mr. K "only (had) three days of (diabetic) medical supplies left." He was reportedly given additional medical supplies soon after. The 51 year old woman Sebina "is in good health," but was roughed up during the initial kidnapping when she was reportedly "beaten lightly." According to Mr. Jama the hostages are well fed and have "their own cook." He added "they (the Germans) are taken around each day, but the place is like Tora Bora (the mountains in Afghanistan where the Taliban hide)."

According to the Somali Press there is still no solid news on the unconfirmed reports of a child and French captain who were reportedly taken along with the German couple. They say little evidence has been found that there are more than two hostages involved, however one of their contacts in Somalia spoke with a clan elder yesterday, who reported again that there is in fact an eight year old boy. The elder stated that the child had been very ill with fever, but is well now. This information however is "completely unconfirmed".

The clan leader also stated that ransom negotiations were going well, and the pirates expect the situation to be resolved soon. The weekly news magazine Der Spiegel also reported that a crisis cell in Berlin was negotiating with the kidnappers through a tribal leader.

Recent Developments
However in a recent development just reported by the Somali Press, it appears that Somali militants are now fighting each-other to rescue the Germans. "We have surrounded the pirates," Gurey Osman Salah, the Somaliland commander in Las Qoray, told Reuters by telephone.

"We will not allow anyone near the area and we will not hesitate to use force."

The move has angered the Puntland authorities, who withdrew their forces last week in order to avoid a clash with Somaliland troops, after local elders called for space to negotiate with the pirates and persuaded both sides to pull back.

International recognition has so far eluded both breakaway enclaves, and security experts say officials on both sides think rescuing the Germans would help their cause.

In Puntland's busy port city of Bosasso, residents said fighters were now preparing for redeployment, raising fears of a battle. Elders who tried to negotiate with the kidnappers were said to have withdrawn to Baran, south of Las Qoray.

"The troops have tested their weapons. We are preparing a force to be sent to Las Qoray," a senior Puntland police officer told Reuters. He declined to be named.

For more details and regular updates on the situation see the Somali Press.