Eight Egyptian sailors remain in the hands of Somali pirates after talks that once looked promising fell apart. Negotiators had reached a preliminary agreement, but the kidnappers walked away from that deal and came back with demands for more money.
Officials confirmed the breakdown but have not said what the original terms were or how much more the pirates are now asking for. What is clear is that the crew is still being held, and the path to their freedom just got longer.
With the talks now collapsed, the fate of the eight men hangs on whether both sides can find a way back to the table, and on what terms.
Originally published by AllAfrica.