Stock Image: Taken before capture

Somalia’s Defense Minister announced today that a South African man and woman, who were captured by Somali pirates 20 months ago, have finally been released.

The couple, Deborah Calitz and Bruno Pelizzari, was kidnapped in October 2010 and captors quickly demanded a hefty ransom of $10 million. They were taken from a yacht while cruising off the southeastern coast of Africa.

“We are very happy to get our freedom again,” Calitz said, speaking haltingly. “We are so happy today and to join our families again.”

They spoke at a press conference at the presidential palace in Mogadishu and appeared to be exhausted but happy. Their 20-month stint makes them some of the longest pirate-held hostages in recent history.

The exact details of their release has not yet been made known and it’s unclear whether a ransom was paid, which is usually the case in such instances. Hussein Arab Isse, the Somali Defense Minister, thanked Somali security forces for assisting with the release, but declined to say if they were in fact rescued.

Although pirate attacks have decreased, the EU Naval Force claims that Somali pirates hold as many as seven ships and 213 hostages. Therefore, the waters off Somalia are patrolled by an international flotilla of warships. In addition, the EU Naval Force’s mandate was expanded earlier this year, allowing them to engage suspected pirates.

[Source: ABC News]