German American Journalist Freed From Captivity By Somali Pirates

A German-American journalist who had been held hostage by pirates in Somalia for over two years was released this week.

German and Somali authorities confirmed that journalist Michael Scott Moore, who has both U.S. and German nationality, had been released and was reportedly at the German Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya on Wednesday.

Moore, a native of Redondo Beach, California, was kidnapped in January 2012 by armed pirates in the area of Galkayo. His captors, whose identity continues to remain unknown, were demanding a $1.6 million ransom be paid for Moore's safe return.

Although the captors were originally demanding ransom, authorities close to the situation said the kidnappers grew tired of holding Moore and were concerned that the U.S. would forcefully remove the journalist from their country.

 Abdi Yusuf, interior minister of Somalia's Galmudug area, told Reuters on Tuesday that to his knowledge, no ransom had been paid for Moore's release.

The German foreign ministry also confirmed Moore's release, saying in a statement: "A German citizen who also had US citizenship who was kidnapped in Somalia was set free today."

The editor-and-chief of Der Spiegel, the newspaper Moore wrote for before his abduction, also expressed his company's relief that the journalist had been freed. "We never lost hope and are celebrating with Michael and his mother Marlies that this nightmare has finally come to an end," said Spiegel Online editor-in-chief Wolfgang Buechner.

"We're grateful to all the people who have worked so long to bring about Michael's release — and thrilled that he and his family can be reunited at last," Jon Sawyer, executive director of the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, added. Sawyer's company had provided Moore with a grant for his research before he was kidnapped.