Chinese Fishermen Freed After Cameroon Kidnap

Kidnappers released seven Chinese fishermen hijacked last week in their boat off the coast of Cameroon, a Chinese embassy official said on Thursday.

The official, who requested anonymity, said the crew were released on Wednesday evening but gave no further details.

Their vessel, one of many Chinese fishing boats in West African waters, was hijacked last week by a group calling itself the “Africa Marine Commando”, the latest in a series of attacks on shipping in the Gulf of Guinea.

The group, which has no known history of attacks in waters off the disputed Bakassi peninsula, had demanded a cash ransom, though it was unclear if one was paid.

A Cameroonian foreign ministry official said earlier in the week that government policy is never to pay a ransom.

Chinese and Cameroonian authorities had been negotiating for the release of the hostages.