en.malanginspirasi.com – Four Indonesian seamen Somali pirates held hostage for over five months arrived back home on Tuesday following a maritime rescue operation in northern Somalia.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs facilitated the repatriation of four crew members from the vessel MT Honour 25, who had been released after being held captive by pirates in Somalia.
Accompanied by the Indonesian Ambassador to Nairobi, the four crew members arrived safely at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, on Tuesday (October 6).
Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir and Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs Sugiono personally welcomed their arrival in Indonesia.
Coordinating Minister Sugiono expressed his gratitude for the return of the four Indonesian citizens after nearly six months in captivity.
“After a long journey, our fellow citizens have returned safely to the homeland and to the embrace of their beloved families,” said Coordinating Minister Sugiono.
He also pledged to ensure that the follow-up to the repatriation process—including medical care for the crew members—is carried out effectively.
Foreign Minister Arrmanatha explained that the release process was lengthy and involved diplomacy and coordination with various parties.
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“From the outset, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs engaged in diplomacy with various stakeholders. We coordinated not only with the Government of Somalia and the ship’s owner but also with the governments of other crew members’ nationalities,” the Foreign Minister stated.
The Foreign Minister also expressed appreciation to Coordinating Minister Sugiono, who was serving as Foreign Minister when the case was being handled.
“Coordinating Minister Sugiono—who was the Foreign Minister at the time—personally led and devoted significant attention to the negotiation process and the efforts to secure the crew’s release,” the Foreign Minister said.
Additionally, the Foreign Minister commended the ship’s captain for his leadership during the captivity and expressed appreciation to the crew members’ families for their patience during the nearly six-month wait for news regarding their loved ones’ well-being.
The welcoming ceremony concluded with the formal handover of the crew members from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to their family representatives.
Subsequently, the entire crew will continue their journeys to their respective home regions.
Since April 21, 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs—through the Directorate for the Protection of Indonesian Citizens and the Indonesian Embassy in Nairobi—has undertaken a series of efforts to secure the release of the vessel and its crew.
These efforts involved intensive coordination with authorities and various stakeholders in Somalia, as well as outreach to the representatives of the crew members’ home countries.
These initiatives culminated in the crew’s release on September 29, 2026, following an operation conducted by Puntland authorities.
Throughout the handling process, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Ministry of Transportation, conducted a series of family engagement activities—held on May 5–7, June 8–11, and September 15, 2026.
They tried to maintain communication with the families and ensure the accurate dissemination of information regarding the case’s progress.
