Egypt hands over 8 pirates to Puntland government

The government of Egypt has formally handed over eight pirates to the Somali regional authority of Puntland, Radio Garowe reports.

The eight pirates were holding two Egyptian ships and their crew hostage for several months along the coast in neighbouring Sanaag region until Aug. 13, when the crew revolted and retook control of both ships.

The Somali pirates were then taken to Egypt, where Egyptian authorities put them in prison and began extradition talks with Puntland government officials.

Gen. Abdullahi Ahmed "Ilkajir," Puntland's interior minister, told Radio Garowe that the Puntland government requested that the eight pirates be handed over to local authorities and tried in a Puntland court.

Egyptian authorities accepted the proposal and the pirates were brought to the port of Bossaso on Monday, where they are being held at a jail located inside port grounds.

Attempts by Radio Garowe to reach Puntland's attorney-general for comment were unsuccessful, but government sources said the pirates will be tried in court soon.

Puntland has cooperated with the international community in the fight against piracy, which threatens an important maritime route where some 20,000 vessels pass through each other.

The U.S. and French governments had previously handed over groups of pirates to Puntland authorities since 2008.

Located in northeast Somalia, Puntland considers itself as a state within federal Somalia and maintains its own government to administer the region.

~	Conference, Oct. 16, 2024. The War Against the Past: Fighting for our History

~	SLAV - Robert Lepage's Reaction

~	Author and Tolerance.ca Editor, Victor Teboul, Ph.D., to speak at the Arab World Festival of Montreal

~	Iran : Hey Ayatollah, Leave those kids alone! and Pink Floyd's remake

~	UN-backed group supports Somali Government’s peace overtures to rivals

~	Cargo vessel captured near Seychelles is commandeered to Somalia

~	U.S. and Oman Navy Rescue Indian Dhow from Somali Pirates - One Sailor Dead

~	Canada. 50% of tax filers participate in a private retirement savings plan

~	Somali Pirates capture second merchant vessel in 24h

~	Canada. 41% of adults have a high cholesterol level