Al-Shabab militants have been active in Somalia for more than 15 years
Fourteen Iranian fishermen have returned home after years of captivity at the hands of Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia.
The fishermen were released after “prolonged negotiations with Somali government officials, tribal leaders and sheikhs,” Iran’s ISNA news agency said.
The fishermen were received by their families in a ceremony held Saturday evening at Tehran airport before being transported to their hometown of Chabahar in southern Iran.
Some have been held for eight years after being abducted in international waters near Somalia.
The fishermen were released about a month after Somali police said they found 20 foreigners, 14 Iranians and six Pakistanis, near militant-held territory.
Police did not explain how they were released, noting that they were found visiting a part of Galmudug state that is under militant control. It is confirmed at the moment that they will be questioned.
A police spokesman explained at the time that some of them were kidnapped by the movement in 2014, while others were captured in 2019.
Reports have indicated they may have been kidnapped by pirates and then transferred to the al-Shabaab movement, which is linked to al-Qaeda and includes foreign fighters in its ranks.
In 2020, three Iranian fishermen believed to be the last hostages held by Somali pirates were released after five years of captivity.
Al-Shabaab has carried out several attacks in Somalia in recent months, including two car bombs in the capital, Mogadishu, in October that killed 120 people.
The government has launched a large-scale offensive against Al-Shabaab in cooperation with local clan militias.
Al-Shabab militants have been active in Somalia for more than 15 years, controlling large rural areas and continuing to launch attacks in cities in a bid to overthrow the central government.
Somalia has also seen piracy for years, although attacks on seagoing vessels off the coast have declined significantly in recent years, having peaked in 2011.
