MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Authorities in Somalia’s northeastern Puntland state have rejected a request from Turkey to release a ship carrying weapons that was seized by regional forces off the Somali coast on Friday. Ankara has stated that the military equipment aboard the vessel was destined for Camp TURKSOM, a Turkish-run military academy in the capital, Mogadishu.
Former Somali Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, who hails from Puntland, said on Thursday that he had been contacted by Turkey’s ambassador to Somalia regarding the matter.
“In a meeting with the Turkish ambassador today, I was informed that the MV Sea World vessel was carrying military equipment for TURKISOM,” Sharmarke said in a brief statement on X.
“The Amb stated that he reached out to Puntland but to no avail. In this view, Puntland has legal obligations to release the ship without delay,” he added.
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The comments followed a declaration from Somalia’s federal government on Wednesday, asserting that the MV Sea World was carrying authorized arms for Camp TURKSOM, where Turkish forces train elite Somali military and police units. Mogadishu denounced the seizure as “an act of hijacking and piracy,” accusing unnamed factions within the Puntland administration of undermining national security.
In response, Puntland authorities defended the seizure, asserting their right to confiscate all weapons aboard the ship. They criticized Mogadishu’s characterization of the incident, warning that such rhetoric could further strain relations. Puntland also announced the launch of an investigation into the vessel, claiming it entered its territorial waters without authorization or prior notice, carrying arms that posed a potential security threat.
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