Thursday 24,July ,2025 {HMC} Puntland regional government has confirmed that a group of local fishermen briefly boarded the MV Sea World after the vessel experienced technical issues off the Bareda coast in the Ras Asayr region, raising concerns about stolen weapons before Puntland security forces intervened.
In a statement issued Thursday, Puntland said the Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) successfully secured the vessel and its cargo on 18 July 2025, preventing potential misuse of the weapons onboard.
“That same evening, Somali traders in Mogadishu contacted the Puntland government, claiming ownership of the cargo and requesting the ship’s immediate release,” the statement said. “Simultaneously, the Turkish Ambassador to Somalia reached out, asserting that the cargo belonged to the Turkish Government.”
Puntland said it escorted the Sea World to the Port of Bosaso for further inspection in light of the competing claims. The vessel, which had loitered for two days near Bareda, was reportedly carrying a significant quantity of military equipment.
According to Puntland, as of 23 July 2025, the federal government had not issued any direct communication or initiated formal contact with Puntland authorities regarding the incident. The regional government said this lack of coordination casts doubt on the actual ownership of the cargo.
Puntland disputed claims made by the federal government that the ship was also carrying commercial goods for Somali traders.
“We confirm that the entire cargo aboard the MV Sea World consists solely of military equipment. There are no commercial goods on board,” the statement read. “We continue to investigate the origin and ownership of the weapons to ensure they do not fall into unauthorized hands that could threaten Somalia’s security and stability.”
Despite the ongoing standoff, Puntland welcomed the involvement of both the Federal Government of Somalia and the Turkish Government in concluding a joint investigation.
The federal government, for its part, has demanded the vessel’s immediate and unconditional release. Officials in Mogadishu said the ship was en route to the TÜRKSOM Military Training Centre in Mogadishu as part of a bilateral defense agreement between Somalia and Türkiye.
In a statement on 23 July, the federal government accused Puntland of violating Article 54 of the Provisional Constitution, which places matters of national defense—including maritime security—under the sole authority of the federal government.
“The hijacking of this vessel is not only a grave violation of Somalia’s Provisional Constitution but also an attack on the country’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity,” the federal government said.
It warned Puntland against continuing what it called “unilateral and unauthorized operations” along Somalia’s coastline and urged all Federal Member States to respect the constitutional division of powers.
The dispute has reignited long-standing tensions between the federal government and Puntland, particularly over maritime governance and control of arms imports in a country still grappling with security threats from extremist groups.
Source Hiiraan online
