Retired British colonel helps secure release of Iranian soldier held by Somali pirates

An Iranian sailor held hostage by Somali pirates was freed as a result of he was dying of malnutrition, a former British military officer who helped negotiate his launch has mentioned.

Three different Iranian hostages stay in Somalia.

“This guy was dying – he looked like a skeleton. He was bleeding internally. He had severe malnutrition. I suspect the others are in a similar condition,” John Steed, a retired British colonel, mentioned.

Col Steed has labored within the area for a few years attempting to free Somali hostages. Mohammad Sharif Panahandeh was amongst 21 crew members of a ship hijacked in March 2015.

Eight of the hostages died, 5 escaped, and Iran freed 4 final yr.

The hostages had been break up up by their captors after arguments over cash, mentioned Col Steed. Mr Panahandeh was launched with out cost as a result of the pirates thought he would die.

“He was released last weekend but we had him in (the northern Somali town of) Galkayo trying to get him fit to travel. A week of trying to get him fit to travel. We had to stabilize him,” Col Steed mentioned.

“Nobody wants to pay for these guys because they are Baluchi,” he added.

Poverty-stricken Baluchistan straddles the border between Iran and Pakistan and is riven by banditry and insurgency.