Indonesia Rejected Somalia Hijackers’ Demands in Effort to Free MT Honour 25 Crew
Indonesia Brings Home Four MT Honour 25 Crew Members After Somalia Pirate Ordeal
Kabarsaji.com – Four Indonesian sailors have returned home after surviving nearly six months in captivity following the hijacking of the MT Honour 25 off Somalia’s coast. Their release followed a security operation by Puntland authorities, ending an ordeal that began in April 2026 and involved crew members from several countries.
The Indonesian nationals were reunited with their families at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Cengkareng, Banten, on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. Indonesian Ambassador to Kenya and Somalia Witjaksono Adji said the government’s efforts focused on diplomacy and coordination with Somali authorities, while avoiding any acceptance of demands made by the hostage-takers.
“If we were to grant the hijackers' demands during negotiations, it would violate international regulations,” Witjaksono said.
He stressed that meeting such demands could create a dangerous precedent for future attacks at sea. Rewarding hostage-taking, he said, risks encouraging criminal groups to believe that hijacking vessels and detaining crews can produce financial or political gains.
“It could also encourage similar hijackings, with the expectation that such acts would yield a ‘reward’,” he added.
Diplomatic Contacts and Local Networks
Indonesia did not conduct formal direct negotiations with the group that held the crew members. Instead, the embassy maintained communication with Somalia’s central government and the Puntland administration, whose territory includes the waters where the vessel was seized.
Puntland occupies a strategically important stretch of Somalia’s northeastern coastline, close to shipping routes linking the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Aden, and the Red Sea. Security incidents in the region can threaten both seafarers and international commerce, making coordination between foreign governments and local authorities essential when a ship is attacked.
Witjaksono said his team explored maritime cooperation with Puntland officials as part of an effort to keep channels of communication open and support the crew’s eventual release. The embassy also worked through local community contacts and non-governmental organizations, reflecting the importance of trusted networks in areas where access and security conditions can be difficult.
The ambassador said information from those local networks initially pointed to a rescue operation involving another ship captured by pirates. That information later led to confirmation that the MT Honour 25 crew had also been freed.
Rescue Operation Ends Months of Captivity
Puntland authorities carried out an armed operation on September 29, 2026, rescuing the crew members from the pirates. After the operation, the Indonesian sailors remained in Puntland for recovery before arrangements were made for their repatriation.
The return home marks the conclusion of a prolonged crisis for the four Indonesians and their families. Witjaksono expressed gratitude that all four survived their detention and were able to come back to Indonesia.
The Indonesian crew members who arrived home were Captain Ashari Samadikun, 34, from Gowa in South Sulawesi; Wahudinanto, 48, from Pemalang in Central Java; Adi Faizal, 27, from Bulukumba in South Sulawesi; and Fiki Mutakin, 25, from Bogor in West Java.
For seafarers, extended captivity can involve severe uncertainty, isolation, and disruption to family life. Their return also highlights the often lengthy work required after a rescue, including securing safe custody, medical recovery, travel documentation, and coordination across governments before crew members can reach their homes.
The April Hijacking
The MT Honour 25 was hijacked near Hafun, Somalia, on April 22, 2026. The vessel’s crew included four Indonesians, 10 Pakistani citizens, one Indian citizen, and one Myanmar citizen.
The multinational composition of the crew illustrates the international nature of commercial shipping, where sailors from many countries frequently work aboard the same vessel. When maritime crime occurs, a single incident can require cooperation among multiple governments, local authorities, vessel operators, and humanitarian contacts.
Indonesia’s handling of the case emphasized a policy of working through recognized authorities rather than providing concessions to the hijackers. The approach combined diplomatic engagement, contact with Puntland, and information gathered through community and NGO networks.
The successful rescue provides relief for the Indonesian sailors and their relatives, while also underscoring the continuing need for maritime security in waters near Somalia. For the four returning crew members, the most immediate outcome is more personal: after months away under coercion, they are finally back with their families.
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