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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Conflict & Security

Two South Sulawesi Residents Held Hostage by Somali Pirates, Provincial Government Provides Support

From Republika · (5m ago) Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The South Sulawesi provincial government is providing assistance and coordinating with the central government to secure the release of two Indonesian sailors, Ashari Samadikun and Faizal, who were taken hostage by Somali pirates.
  • The sailors, captain and third mate of the tanker Honour 25, were captured on April 21, 2026, in international waters.
  • The provincial government is in contact with the families and working with the Ministry of Migrant Worker Protection and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure the safe return of the hostages, who are reported to be safe but in an uncertain situation.

Republika (Indonesia)

We continue to monitor the developments.

— Andi Sudirman SulaimanGovernor of South Sulawesi, assuring that the situation of the hostages is being closely watched.

The South Sulawesi provincial government is demonstrating a swift and compassionate response to the distressing news of two of its citizens being taken hostage by Somali pirates. The immediate actions taken by Governor Andi Sudirman Sulaiman, including contacting the families and coordinating with national ministries, reflect the government's commitment to its people, even when they are far from home.

This incident, involving Captain Ashari Samadikun from Gowa and Third Mate Faizal from Bulukumba, highlights the persistent dangers faced by Indonesian seafarers in international waters. The capture of the Honour 25 tanker crew on April 21, 2026, serves as a stark reminder of the risks involved in maritime trade and the vulnerability of Indonesian workers abroad.

We ensure the government is present and continues to coordinate so that the hostages can be released safely and immediately.

— Jayadi NasHead of the South Sulawesi Manpower and Transmigration Office, emphasizing government support for the hostages' families and the rescue efforts.

The involvement of the Ministry of Migrant Worker Protection and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs underscores the seriousness with which the central government is treating this situation. The ongoing efforts through diplomatic channels aim for the safe release of the hostages, a priority that resonates deeply within Indonesia, a nation with a significant maritime workforce.

My husband briefly asked not to be contacted again because he was worried his phone would be used by the pirates.

— Santi SanayaWife of the ship's captain, recounting her last communication with her husband before the situation escalated.

While the report indicates the hostages are safe, the uncertainty and fear experienced by their families, as described by Santi Sanaya, the captain's wife, are palpable. Her account of her husband's brief communication, the language barriers during negotiations, and the constant threat of violence paint a harrowing picture. The fact that four Indonesians, including these two from South Sulawesi, are among the 17 hostages emphasizes the national scope of this crisis and the collective hope for their safe return.

The situation is uncertain, sometimes tense. My husband was also threatened with a gun.

— Santi SanayaWife of the ship's captain, describing the dangerous conditions faced by the hostages.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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