Tuesday 14,Jan,2025 {HMC} Two Somali fishermen, rescued by a Chinese ship after their boat broke down in the middle of the Indian Ocean, have been safely returned to Mogadishu, the Somali government announced.
The fishermen, identified as Ibrahim Mohamud Ali and Sharma’arke Nur Abdi Adan, spent 24 harrowing days stranded at sea. Their fishing boat, which broke down off the coast of Mogadishu, drifted aimlessly until they were rescued by a passing Chinese vessel.
The Somali Embassy in China facilitated the fishermen’s return by coordinating with the ship’s captain to assist. The two men arrived at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu on Monday afternoon, where they were greeted by Somali government officials, including the Somali Ambassador to China, Hodan Osman. Family and friends were also present to celebrate their safe return.
Speaking at the airport, Ibrahim and Sharma’arke stated that after their boat broke down while fishing near Mogadishu, strong winds carried them deeper into the Indian Ocean. They survived for nearly 24 days without food or water until the Chinese ship rescued them.
The two men were initially taken to China on January 10, 2025, before being repatriated to Somalia on January 13.
Their story mirrors a similar recent rescue involving three other Somali fishermen who were missing at sea for nearly a month. The fishermen, who disappeared on December 6, 2024, after departing Berbera, were rescued off the coast of Djibouti following a 29-day ordeal caused by a mechanical failure on their vessel.
Both incidents highlight the challenges Somali fishermen face operating in unpredictable and dangerous conditions and the importance of international cooperation in maritime rescues.
