Philemon has now made his way to Cairo, home to hundreds of former kidnap victims like him.

BBC: Eritrean tells of Sinai torture for ransom

Four months on, and Philemon Semere, who was interviewed by the BBC's Mike Thomson, is still being held there.

BBC: 'Kidnappers melted plastic on my back'

With no guarantee that he'll be allowed to work to help pay them back, or be granted asylum, Philemon's future, like that of so many others, hangs in the balance.

BBC: Eritrean tells of Sinai torture for ransom