Somali pirates have released 26 Asian hostages held for nearly five years after the hijacking of their fishing vessel, the last commercial ship seized at the height of the country’s piracy scourge, negotiators said on Saturday. The crew of the Naham 3, held hostage for the second longest by Somali pirates, were taken captive when their Omani-flagged vessel was seized in March 2012 south of the Seychelles. “The release of the Naham 3 crew represents the end of captivity for the last remaining seafarers taken hostage during the height of Somali piracy,” he said. Only a crew of Thai fishermen, released in February last year after nearly five years in captivity, spent longer held by Somali pirates. In 2012 Somali piracy cost the global economy between $5.7bn and $6.1bn (€5.6bn) and at the peak in January 2011, Somali pirates held 736 hostages and 32 boats.

Source: The Guardian October 22, 2016 22:21 UTC