🚨🚨 Puntland impounds arms shipment from Turkiye headed to FGS.

Whats going on? This story just confuses me.

So this is how PL got suspicious. The ship stayed for 2 days close to the shore. Some other reports also say the ship suffered technical difficulties which can be the reason why it stayed 2 days on PL coast and thus, taken vy PL gov.

No statements from FGS or Turkey. We will see more in the coming days. Right now things remain unclear, especially who imported the weaponry.
There a number of suspicions:
a) Ship turned off its signal once entered Jibouti waters,
b) Its staff made conflicting statements incl. to have suffered technical difficulties, which turns out to be false,
c) Then claimed there to have been weather related issues, which too was false, for weather forecast for the last 10 days has been smooth sailing,​

d) It is suspected now ship offloaded weapons off the coast during those two days, but for whom and what is unknown,

e) A Aktaş, Turkey Ambassador to .So lodged a claim Sea World ship cargo was for TurkSom. Puntland asked for verification and cargo manifest, and he is yet to provide verification.

f) FGS has not made 'official' claim or contact,

g) It is now a legal matter, and illegal weapons shipment case.

1
 
Abdisaid Muse Ali
Chairperson of LomΓ© Security and Peace Forum/- 30th Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation; former National Security Advisor and Chief of Staff

The chaos around the Turkish weapons shipment to Mogadishu intercepted in Puntland demands answers.
Here’s what we know so far & what it reveals about a deeper breakdown in arms control, transparency, and Somalia’s sovereignty.

The vessel carrying arms and military equipment made an unscheduled stop off Puntland’s coast, reportedly due to β€œtechnical issues.” But what was on board and who authorized it is raising serious alarms.

Weapons, ammunition, & military gear were found on the ship.
Yet no official statement has been made by
β€’ Somalia’s Ministry of Defense
β€’ Office of the National Security Advisor
β€’ Ministry of Internal Security
β€’ Nor by the Turkish government.

Instead, Turkish online trolls were unleashed to deflect scrutiny and insult segments of Somali society raising legitimate questions. No diplomacy. No clarity. Just disinformation & misinformation.

According to Villa Somalia insiders, only two people had prior knowledge of the shipment:
β€’ President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
β€’ The Minister of Ports
β€’ No other institution was informed, not even Somalia’s defense or security agencies.

This raises a critical legal and constitutional question:
Were proper procedures followed for importing arms into Somalia?
Everything suggests they weren’t.

So what are the proper procedures for weapons imports into Somalia?
Here’s what should’ve happened under the FGS & international law. πŸ‘‡
End-User Certificate (EUC):

- All arms must have a signed EUC from the FGS, clearly stating the origin, quantity, and end user.

UN Pre-Notification for heavy weapons:
FGS must notify the UN Sanctions Committee 15 days before heavy military shipment enters Somalia.

Internal Clearance:
The shipment must be approved by
β€’ Ministry of Defense
β€’ Ministry of Internal Security
β€’ National Security Office
β€’ Prime Minister’s Office (for oversight)
β€’ WAM system for post-arrival tracking & biometric registration

If none of these steps were followed, then both the Turkish government & those facilitating this shipment inside Somalia have violated
β€’ FGS constitution
β€’ Somalia’s arms control protocol
β€’ UN-mandated procedures
β€’ Basic principles of national sovereignty

This is not just a technical issue.
It’s a crisis of trust, law, & transparency.
Somalia cannot afford shadow arms deals, especially as it prepares for a pivotal transition in 2026.

We need facts, not secrecy.
Oversight, not improvisation.
And a government that respects the constitution, & the legal process in place, not personal deals.

The Somali people deserve to be respected & accountability. Nothing less.

 

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