Former Somali Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke has called on Puntland authorities to immediately release the MV Sea World, which was recently seized off the coast of Puntland and accused of carrying illegal weapons.
Omar Abdirashid said the ship was carrying legitimate military equipment, bound for the TURKISOM training center for Somali forces, which is run by the Turkish government.
“In a meeting I had with the Turkish ambassador to Somalia, he told me that the MV Sea World was carrying military equipment destined for the TURKISOM center. The ambassador added that he had contacted Puntland, but there was no response,” Omar Abdirashid said.
He also said that based on the information provided by the Turkish ambassador and the condition of the ship, Puntland has a legal obligation to immediately release the ship, as the weapons are intended for the Somali National Army, which is being trained.
The ship, which was seized a few days ago, has caused a major dispute between Puntland and the federal government, with Puntland saying that it is not known who officially owns the weapons on the ship, while the federal government and the Turkish embassy both said that the weapons were legal and intended for defense and military training purposes.
Former Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid has called on the Puntland authorities to avoid anything that could hinder the reconstruction of the army and Somalia’s cooperation with international partners.
