Wednesday July 23, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali federal government has called on
the Puntland regional administration to immediately and unconditionally release
the Sea World, a Comoros-flagged cargo vessel intercepted while transporting
military equipment and commercial goods to Mogadishu under a bilateral defense
agreement with Türkiye.
In a strongly worded statement issued Wednesday, the federal
government said the vessel was en route to the TÜRKSOM Military Training Centre
in Mogadishu when it was detained by the Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF)
off the coast of the northeastern region.
The government confirmed that the ship was carrying legally
authorized defense cargo in addition to goods belonging to Somali traders.
“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 statement read.
Authorities in Puntland claim the vessel had been anchored
illegally for two days near the town of Bareda, an area recently rocked by
clashes between Puntland security forces and Islamic State militants. Officials
raised suspicions about the ship’s intentions and the final destination of its
cargo, prompting the interception. The Sea World has since been taken to the
Port of Bosaso, where it remains under investigation.
The federal government accused unnamed individuals within
Puntland of engaging in unauthorized maritime actions, alleging that such
interference oversteps the regional administration’s constitutional authority.
“Under Article 54 of the Provisional Constitution, the
authority for national defense—including the protection of territorial
waters—rests solely with the Federal Government,” the statement noted.
The federal government warned Puntland against conducting
unilateral operations along the Somali coastline, saying such actions threaten
national stability.
“The Federal Government will not tolerate actions that
undermine its constitutional mandate or compromise the safety of Somali
waters,” the statement said.
Officials urged all Federal Member States, including
Puntland, to respect the constitutional division of powers, particularly
concerning matters of national defense and maritime security. Any deviation
from this framework, the government cautioned, risks eroding federal harmony
and weakening Somalia’s collective security.
The incident has reignited long-standing tensions between
Mogadishu and Garowe over control of Somali waters and the broader question of
federal authority. Puntland has not publicly responded to the federal
government’s demand as of press time.