Somalia: Pirates Will “Reduce $7- Million Ransom” Sources Say (RBC NEWS)

Abdalle Muumin

RBC Radio Staff

NAIROBI, (RBC Radio)  Head of the East African Seafarers’ Assistance Programme, Andrew Mwangura has said that he  been working with Somali elders to help free the British  couple held in Somalia, RBC Radio reports.
Mr Chandler, a 59-year-old retired quantity surveyor, and his economist wife Rachel, 55, were kidnapped on October 23 while sailing in the Indian Ocean.
Mr Mwangura told the Mail that he Somali pirates think the couples are rich that is they demanded huge sum of ransom.

“The (Somali) pirates realise now that the Chandlers are not rich people. They will be persuaded to lower their demand, maybe to £100,000.” He said.

Sources close to the pirates say that there are ongoing negotiations to release the couples, but firs pirates must be given their demand.

The pirates say they had moved the couples deeper into central Somalia after a row between rival pirate gangs.
“The couples are now brought onshore near Bahdo, a small village near Harardhere”, Abdi Ali resident in Harardhere told RBC Radio.

The Somali pirate4s said earlier that they demanded such a large ransom because the international naval forces have destroyed many equipments belonging to the pirates.

Yesterday, the British Government said it would not pay a £4.2m ransom to secure the couple’s freedom.
Source: RBC Radio