(VOVworld) – The Somalia government said on Saturday that Somali pirates have freed 26 Asians, including Vietnamese citizens, who were sailors on Naham 3 hijacked in the Indian Ocean in 2012. The captain was killed during the hijacking while two sailors died in custody.

A French Navy ‘Panther’ helicopter chasing a boat carrying suspected Somali pirates off the French warship ‘Le Nivose’ in 2009. (Photo: AFP)

The released hostages will be transported to Nairobi, Kenya. John Steed, the Coordinator of the Hostage Support Partners (HSP), said the negotiation process has lasted for 18 months with the mediation of community, tribe, and religious leaders, but he did not give any more details.