Puntland Denies Piracy Claims After Seizing Arms Ship Bound for Mogadishu

GAROWE, Somalia - Puntland has dismissed claims that it 'hijacked' MV Sea World, a Mogadishu-bound vessel carrying weapons meant for Turkish-trained Gorgor troops, following accusations lodged by the federal government of Somalia.

In a lengthy statement, the federal government accused Puntland of what it termed 'piracy' within Bareeda District in the northern parts of Puntland state. The federal government went on to castigate Puntland authorities for 'disrespect'.

The government stated that the ship was carrying military equipment for the Turkish-Somali training facility in Mogadishu, under the country’s laws and defense cooperation between Somalia and Turkey.

The government claimed the detention of the ship “constitutes an act of 'piracy” and warned it could take action against maritime zones and coastal landing sites that “serve as hubs for acts of piracy.”

But in defence, Puntland maintains that the vessel was seized last week after its Maritime Forces received intelligence that the cargo ship had been circling suspiciously for two days.

Puntland emphasized its constitutional responsibility for the safety of the people and environment within its territory and expressed deep concern over the letter issued by the Federal Government of Somalia, which falsely accused Puntland of piracy.

The release, seen by Garowe Online, states that Puntland forces boarded the ship and safely recovered young fishermen who had initially reached the vessel to prevent its weapons cargo from falling into civilian hands. That same night, Puntland was contacted by businessmen from Mogadishu claiming ownership of the shipment and requesting the ship’s release.

Additionally, Turkey’s ambassador reached out, claiming the cargo belonged to the Turkish government. Consequently, Puntland decided to escort the ship to Bosaso Port for full inspection.

Puntland criticized the Federal Government for remaining silent from July 18 to 25, failing to communicate or clarify the nature of the cargo, which further raised suspicions. The Federal Government’s letter on July 25 introduced contradictory claims—stating the cargo belonged partly to Somali businessmen and partly to a Turkish entity named TurkeySom.

Puntland, however, confirmed that the shipment consisted entirely of military equipment, with no indication that it was commercial goods.

The investigation into the origin and ownership of the ship and cargo is ongoing, and Puntland welcomes the participation of both the Turkish Government and the Federal Government of Somalia in the verification process to ensure transparency and national security.

Garowe Online first reported the seizure of the vessel off Bareeda before the cargo ship was towed to Bosaso, the commercial capital of Puntland. The digital platform can authoritatively report that no weapon was looted as earlier claimed on social media platforms.

GAROWE ONLINE