Somali pirates have released a United Arab Emirates-flagged oil tanker and its crew just weeks after capturing the vessel in the Indian Ocean.

The MT Jubba XX was seized on July 16 while travelling from the UAE to the port of Berbera in the breakaway northern Somali region of Somaliland.

It was released Thursday after negotiations between the pirates, local officials and businessmen. The amount of ransom paid was unclear.

The 4,000 ton oil tanker was carrying a crew of 16 people, including sailors from Somalia, Sri Lanka, India, Ethiopia, Burma, Sudan and Bangladesh.

Somali pirates have hijacked some 21 ships so far this year.

Somalia has not had a functioning government since the overthrow of Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.