The Comoros-flagged M.V. Sea World was seized by Puntland Marine Police on 18 July while stationed near the coastal town of Bareeda.

Somalia’s Minister of Defense, Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, accused Puntland authorities of unlawfully seizing a legally sailing vessel, claiming it as a “war bounty.”

Speaking at a public event in Mogadishu, Fiqi denounced Puntland’s leadership, describing them as “stooges” serving foreign interests.

“A man who intercepted a lawfully operating vessel and declare it a war prize is a shame,” said Fiqi, asserting that the ship belonged to the Turkish government and was on a legitimate mission.

Responding Friday night at a separate event in Garowe, Puntland’s Minister of Information, Mahmoud Aidid Dirir, dismissed the federal government’s claims as contradictory and misleading.

Dirir said the ship, flying the Comoros flag, had turned off its communication systems and remained off the coast of Bareeda for four days before being intercepted.

“The vessel was just two nautical miles from Bareeda and had disabled its communication—what was it doing there?” Dirir asked, raising suspicions about the ship’s intent in an area where Puntland is engaged in counterterrorism operations.

“We don’t know if it was delivering weapons? We don’t know if it was bringing in terrorists?” the minister added.

The M.V. Sea World remains docked at the port of Bosaso. Authorities in Puntland say an investigation is underway into the contents of the vessel, which reportedly include armored vehicles and various types of weapons.

The Puntland administration maintains that under its regional constitution, it has jurisdiction over its territorial waters up to 12 nautical miles and reserves the right to protect itself from potential security threats.

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In a statement issued Monday evening, Puntland Presidential Spokesperson Jama Yusuf said the vessel — M.V Sea World — had been anchored in waters off Bosaso for two days before it was seized by Puntland maritime police on July 18.

The authorities are now conducting inspection.

The ship was reportedly flying the Comoros flag.

According to Puntland authorities, arms traders based in Mogadishu contacted the regional government claiming ownership of the cargo and requested the release of the vessel.

“The ship was carrying military supplies only — some belonging to private arms dealers and some to TurkSom,” said Yusuf, referring to the Turkish military training base in Mogadishu.

He also confirmed that the Turkish ambassador in Mogadishu had contacted Puntland officials regarding the matter.

The spokesperson criticized a statement issued earlier by the Federal Government of Somalia, which accused Puntland of piracy and hijacking the vessel.

He described those allegations as “regrettable.”

Puntland officials said that light weapons on board were looted by civilians before security forces arrived.

The ship remains at the port of Bosaso under investigation.

Puntland says it welcomes the involvement of both the Federal Government of Somalia and the Government of Turkey in the inquiry.

Authorities in Puntland have raised concerns about the broader implications of the shipment, amid suspicions surrounding its origin and contents.

Since the partial lifting of the United Nations arms embargo on Somalia in December 2023, the flow of unauthorized weapons into the country has significantly increased.

Many of these arms are believed to have reached extremist groups like Al-Shabaab and ISIS.

At the same time, clan-based violence has intensified, with illegal weapons contributing to deadly conflicts that have displaced thousands.

Both Puntland and Somaliland — which operate as autonomous administrations — have called on the UN to reinstate the full arms embargo on Somalia, citing security risks posed by the unchecked flow of weapons to militant groups and clan militias.

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