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The Puntland regional government has confirmed the release of a cargo ship carrying military equipment and commercial goods to Mogadishu, following an agreement reached with the Government of Türkiye.
Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni met with a high-level Turkish delegation led by Ambassador Alper Aktaş in Bosaso on Monday. The visit marked the end of several weeks of negotiations over the MV Sea World — a cargo ship that had been seized in July by Puntland’s Maritime Police Force (PMPF) near Bareda, in the Gardafuu region.
The Sea World, which was flying the Comoros flag, was traveling from Izmir, Türkiye, to Mogadishu. When intercepted, it was found to be carrying military items including armored vehicles, mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) trucks, and anti-aircraft weapons — many of which had markings from the Turkish military.
Puntland initially raised serious concerns about the shipment. Authorities were unsure who owned the cargo and whether it was legally being transported. This led to tensions with Somalia’s federal government in Mogadishu, which accused Puntland of acting outside its authority and disrupting national defense arrangements.
However, Türkiye maintained that the shipment was part of a legitimate military agreement between Somalia and the Turkish government. After presenting official documents to Puntland, Turkish officials were able to prove that they owned the cargo.
In a statement released on Monday, Puntland’s government said that after reviewing evidence and completing its own investigation, it had decided to hand over full responsibility for the ship and its contents to Türkiye.
“Based on the documents provided by the Turkish government and the investigation carried out, Puntland has decided to transfer responsibility for the MV Sea World and its cargo to the Government of Türkiye,” the statement said.
The federal government in Mogadishu had earlier criticized Puntland’s seizure of the vessel, calling it an illegal act that could damage Somalia’s defense partnerships. In a statement released on July 23, the Somali government said the ship was legally transporting military equipment as part of a defense deal with Türkiye. It added that the shipment was headed for the TÜRKSOM Military Training Centre in Mogadishu, and also included commercial goods for Somali businesspeople.
Officials in Mogadishu accused Puntland of undermining Somalia’s unity by conducting unauthorized naval operations. They warned that such actions could harm the country’s international relationships, especially those involving security cooperation.
In response, Puntland rejected the federal government’s version of events. A statement from Puntland on July 24 said the ship was carrying only military cargo with unclear ownership. It denied that any commercial goods were on board and raised concerns that local fishermen may have boarded the ship before security forces arrived — possibly stealing some of the weapons.
The disagreement is the latest example of ongoing tensions between Somalia’s federal government and its regional states. Puntland has often challenged decisions made in Mogadishu, particularly on matters involving national security and foreign relations.
Despite the earlier tensions, both Puntland and Türkiye appear satisfied with the outcome of the recent negotiations. The release of the Sea World is seen as a positive step towards avoiding future misunderstandings and maintaining cooperation in the region.