Somalia’s Puntland releases Turkey arms cargo ship: What to know
Talks between Turkey and Puntland follow the seizure of a military cargo ship amid simmering disputes over authority with Mogadishu.
ANKARA — Somalia’s Puntland region has agreed to hand over a Turkish arms vessel to the Somali government, following talks with Turkish officials after seizing the vessel — a move that sparked tensions with Mogadishu.
“The Puntland Government has decided to officially hand over the responsibility of the MV Sea World vessel and its cargo to the Government of Turkiye,” Puntland presidency announced late Monday on the X platform, after concluding its investigation.
What happened: Puntland authorities seized the Comoros-flagged MV Sea World on July 18, after it remained anchored off the coast of Puntland for two days, citing security concerns and suspicious activity, according to local reports. The ship was reportedly carrying Turkish-marked military equipment bound for Somalia’s federal army, Somali media outlets reported.
Puntland’s decision to release the vessel and its cargo came after a Turkish delegation led by Turkey’s Ambassador to Mogadishu Alper Aktas held talks with Puntland’s leader, Said Abdullahi Deni, according to the Puntland presidency.
