Puntland authorities have accused Somaliland of hijacking two boats belonging to Puntland businessmen off the coast of Lasqoray district in Sanaag region.
The governor of Lasqoray district in Puntland made the accusation, saying he regretted the incident, but on the other hand, said that efforts were underway to return the boats to the businessmen who owned them.
The governor said that Somaliland forces launched an ambush in Lasqoray district, and then seized the two boats.
He said that they were legal boats operating in the area, denying reports on social media that the boats were carrying illegal weapons.
Meanwhile, another fishing boat was hijacked off the coast of Bari region, and it is suspected that the incident is related to the boats hijacked in Lasqoray.
Preliminary reports indicate that businessmen close to those who hijacked the Lasqoray boats have also hijacked this fishing boat, claiming that the boat is owned by businessmen from Somaliland.
Lasqoray district is one of the areas that both administrations claim to control, but administratively it is currently under the control of the Puntland administration.
