Somali pirates seek $3m to free 17 hostages, including 10 Pakistanis

MOGADISHU: Somali pirates holding 17 crew members aboard the hijacked oil tanker Honour 25 have demanded $3 million for the release of the hostages, the vessel and its cargo, the Ansar Burney Trust.

The development emerged during ongoing contact between the pirates and the trust. Qurrat-ul-Ain Advocate, director of the Ansar Burney Trust, said the latest communication took place on Monday, when the pirate leader sent a WhatsApp message stating for the first time that all those on board would only be freed if the amount was paid.

She said the pirates refused to lower the demand and also ruled out negotiations over the figure. She said they rejected the involvement of third parties and asked that the Pakistani government speak to them directly.

Demand differs from earlier reports

The pirates also denied recent reports that they had sought $10 million. They further disassociated themselves from a man identified as Usman, who had appeared in media reports as the ship’s owner and had allegedly been linked to the reported $10 million demand.

The Honour 25, an oil products tanker sailing under the Somali flag from Oman to Somalia, was hijacked by pirates on the 21st of last month. There were 17 crew members on board, including 10 Pakistani nationals.

Families of the Pakistani crew members have repeatedly appealed to the government to ensure the safe return of their relatives. A Reuters-captioned image showed relatives of the Pakistani hostages protesting in Karachi on May 13, 2026, while calling for immediate official action.

Hostages report worsening conditions

In video and audio messages, the Pakistani hostages said conditions on board had deteriorated sharply. They reported that food stocks and medicines had been exhausted and that they were being given only one serving of boiled rice each day.

They also said clean drinking water was no longer available and that they had been forced to consume contaminated water, which they said was making people ill.

One social media post included an appeal by hostage Yusuf Hussain to the Pakistani government, saying the captives were being given boiled rice and dirty tank water and urging early negotiations with the pirates.

Contacts with other countries

The pirates said Sri Lanka and India are among the countries that have been in touch with them regarding their seven nationals held aboard the vessel. However, they did not confirm any communication from Pakistan.

Pakistani authorities, meanwhile, say they are in contact with both the pirates and the Somali government in an effort to secure the release of the Pakistani hostages.

The case has drawn growing concern as the families of those held continue to seek urgent intervention for the crew’s safe recovery.