World · Africa · 14 hrs ago
Somali pirates release Indonesian captain after five months in captivity
Ashari Samadikun, captain of the MT Hanour 25, has returned to his family in Gowa, South Sulawesi, after five months held by armed pirates off Somalia.
The ship’s 17 crew members were taken hostage on April 21 and released on September 29, 2026.
Ashari said the crew lost contact with the outside world during their third month in captivity, when food ran out and the generator and water-making equipment stopped working.
Two crew members died, including the ship’s cook, who Ashari said was shot in front of him.
The pirates initially demanded a $7 million ransom, which Ashari said was gradually reduced to $1.5 million through negotiations.
He said he does not know whether or which country paid the final amount.
Ashari is still dealing with the trauma and has not decided whether he will return to sea.
Indonesian captain Ashari Samadikun returned home after being held by Somali pirates for five months.
The 17 crew members were held from April 21 until their release on September 29, 2026.
Two crew members died in captivity, and Ashari said one was shot in front of him.
Pirates initially demanded a ransom of $7 million, which Ashari said was eventually reduced to $1.5 million.
Ashari said he has not decided whether he will return to sea.
- Who
- Ashari Samadikun, captain of the MT Hanour 25, and 16 other crew members were taken hostage. Two crew members died in captivity.
- What
- Somali pirates held the crew for five months before releasing them.
- When
- The captivity lasted from April 21 to September 29, 2026.
- Where
- The crew were held aboard the ship in Somali waters.
- Why
- Not stated
Somali pirates
Ashari Samadikun
Ransom demand
Somali pirates
The pirates initially demanded $7 million.
Ashari Samadikun
Ashari argued that the amount was impossible to pay.
Negotiation
Somali pirates
The pirates reduced their demand to $1.5 million.
Ashari Samadikun
Ashari said he negotiated directly with the pirates and argued that the ship and its cargo could not justify the original sum.
I can put off deciding whether to sail again. I am still recovering emotionally, because until now I have not been able to decide.
We were desperate in the third month. That month there were no more phone calls, no communication at all. The food had run out, all the generators were broken, the equipment was dead.
There were two crew members who could not come home, and that is what still weighs on me.
I argued with them and told them it was impossible.
The captivity of the 17 crew members began.
Ashari said communications stopped, food ran out and the generators broke down.
The crew were released.
Ashari was at his family home in Gowa, South Sulawesi.
- Crew members taken hostage
- 17
- Duration of captivity
- Five months
- Release date
- September 29, 2026
- Crew members who died
- 2
- Initial ransom demand
- $7 million
- Final ransom demand
- $1.5 million
Sources
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