Civilians loot weapons from vessel intercepted off Somalia coast
MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – A portion of a weapons shipment onboard a vessel seized by Puntland maritime forces on Friday has reportedly been offloaded and fallen into civilian hands, marking the second such incident since the United Nations lifted its decades-long arms embargo on Somalia.
Videos circulating on social media show civilians handling machine guns, rifles, and pistols believed to be offloaded from the vessel, which was carrying a consignment of weapons and military vehicles—some bearing Turkish insignia—off the coast of Puntland State.
Local sources report that while some military equipment was looted, a significant portion, including military trucks, armored vehicles, and heavy weaponry, remains onboard. Puntland authorities have yet to issue an official statement addressing how the weapons ended up in civilian possession.
The origin and destination of the vessel remain unclear. It is widely speculated that the shipment was intended for Somalia’s federal government and possibly sourced via black market channels. The ship reportedly navigated along coastal routes, allegedly to evade detection by international naval patrols in Somali waters.
During a meeting in Mogadishu, Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi declined to comment on the incident, walking away when asked by a journalist about the weapons seizure.
Puntland’s Minister of Interior criticized the shipment as evidence of the dangers posed by the lifting of the arms embargo, calling it a “loophole” that exposes both Somalia and the international community to increased risk from uncontrolled weapons smuggling.
This incident comes just a year after civilians looted two truckloads of smuggled arms—including pistols, sniper rifles, machine guns, and anti-aircraft weapons—near the town of Abudwaq in central Somalia. That 2024 incident reportedly involved weapons trafficked from Ethiopia through brokers with alleged ties to the Somali federal government, further exacerbating instability in regions plagued by inter-clan violence.
Contact us: [email protected]