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Puntland’s regional government has confirmed that local fishermen briefly boarded the cargo ship MV Sea World after it experienced technical problems near Bareda, a coastal area in the Ras Asayr region. This incident raised concerns that weapons on board the ship might be stolen. However, Puntland’s security forces quickly took control of the situation.
In an official statement released on Thursday, Puntland said its Maritime Police Force (PMPF) secured the ship and its contents on July 18, 2025. The authorities acted to prevent the military equipment from ending up in the wrong hands, which could threaten Somalia’s safety and stability.
Later that same evening, Puntland received calls from Somali traders based in Mogadishu claiming that the cargo belonged to them. They asked for the ship to be released immediately. Additionally, the Turkish Ambassador to Somalia also contacted Puntland authorities, saying the military cargo was the property of the Turkish Government.
Due to these conflicting claims, Puntland decided to escort the Sea World to the Port of Bosaso for further inspection. The vessel had been drifting near Bareda for two days before it was seized. Puntland reported that the ship was carrying a large shipment of military equipment.
As of July 23, Puntland said that it had not received any official communication from the Federal Government of Somalia about the incident. Puntland believes that this silence creates uncertainty about who truly owns the cargo and raises concerns about the legitimacy of the shipment.
Puntland has strongly denied claims from the federal government that the ship was also transporting commercial goods meant for Somali businesses. According to Puntland’s statement, “We confirm that the entire cargo aboard the MV Sea World consists solely of military equipment. There are no commercial goods on board.”
The regional government says it is still investigating the source and intended recipient of the weapons. It emphasized that the goal is to ensure the cargo does not end up with unauthorized groups that could destabilize Somalia further.
While Puntland has welcomed the idea of a joint investigation involving both the Federal Government of Somalia and the Turkish Government, the matter remains tense.
Meanwhile, the federal government has demanded that Puntland immediately and unconditionally release the ship. Authorities in Mogadishu stated that the Sea World was heading to the TÜRKSOM Military Training Centre in Mogadishu. The shipment was reportedly part of a defense cooperation agreement between Somalia and Türkiye.
In its own statement, issued on July 23, the federal government accused Puntland of overstepping its authority. It claimed the seizure of the vessel violated Article 54 of Somalia’s Provisional Constitution, which gives the federal government sole authority over national defense and maritime security.
“The hijacking of this vessel is not only a violation of the constitution but also an attack on Somalia’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity,” the federal statement said.
Mogadishu also warned Puntland against taking unilateral actions along the country’s coastline. It reminded all Federal Member States to respect the constitutional division of power and allow the federal government to handle national security matters.
This standoff has once again brought to the surface the long-running tensions between the federal government and Puntland. Disagreements over control of ports, maritime governance, and arms shipments continue to strain relations in a country already struggling with threats from armed extremist groups like Al-Shabaab.
The final outcome of this dispute may depend on whether all sides can agree to a joint investigation and establish clear communication to avoid further conflict.