Algeria Urges Releasing Navigator Hostages in Somalia

Algeria has urged releasng all hostages, including Algerian navigators, kidnapped early this year in the African corn coasts by Somali pirates.

Foreign Minister, Mourad Medelci has been quoted by APS news agency as saying in an allocution he addressed at the occasion of the Day of Africa, that “We seize this occasion as opportunity to call on for releasing all hostages, including Algerians, detained in Somalia early this year, wishing that they join their family members as quick as possible.”

Mr Medelci further urged Africa and the international community to reinforce cooperation in terms of endorsing AU mission in Somalia (AUMISOM) to fight terrorism and piracy which are destabilizing Somalia.  

However, a spokesman of the family members of Algerian navigators being kidnapped in Somalia expressed indignation towards Medelci’s statements, saying they are a sort of disavowing responsibility. Abdelkader Achour.said: “What does the Minister want? Does he want to affirm that Algeria won’t pay ransoms to free our sons? In this case, we require our country to press Jordan to pay the ransom.”

To recall, the Blida bulk carrier was seized around 150 nautical miles southeast of the Omani port of Salalah on January 1 as it was heading for Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The kidnapped crew includes Algerians and Ukrainians.

The spokesman, whose brother is among the 27 captives, said the crew of the Algerian flagged cargo ship is sound and healthy but exhausted from filthy living conditions.

The hostages “telephoned their families. They said they were exhausted. They are kept on the gangway of their ship. The water (being fed) is dirty, the food rancid,” said Achour.

“We ask the Algerian authorities to intervene to speed up their release,” he added.