5 Indonesians Held Hostage as Chinese Ship Hijacked off Somalia

[Deeq A.]

A Chinese-flagged ship, Liao Dong Yu 578,
was hijacked off the coast near Bandarbeyla, Puntland, Somalia, on December 31, 2025. Five Indonesian crew members are among those still being held hostage by the hijackers.

“There are currently five Indonesian crew members and 14 crew members of other nationalities on the vessel,” said the Acting Director General of Indonesian Citizen Protection at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Heni Hamidah, when confirmed by Tempo on Monday, January 19, 2026.

According to Heni, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, is working with the Indonesian Honorary Consul in Somalia.

Indonesia is also working closely with the Somali authorities and the company that owns the vessel to secure the release of crew members who are still being held captive by the pirates.

The pirates allegedly attacked the fishing vessel in the evening of December 31, 2025.

Previously, the Liao Dong Yu 578 had reportedly been hijacked in the waters of Eyl Nugal, Puntland, in November 2024. Based on reports received by Tempo, the ship, alongside the crew, was released on January 13, 2025, after the company paid a ransom of US$2 million demanded by the hijackers.

Source En.tempo

Qaran News