Somaliland offloads 'illegal' arms on seized ship

Hiiraan Online
Monday, February 2, 2015

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HARGEISA (HOL) - Despite concerns of Somalia's decades-old arms embargo violations, Somaliland forces have unloaded a ship laden with illegal arms it seized last week, sources told HOL on Monday.

The mysterious ship's arms including armored vehicles, mortars and battlewagons were offloaded following a decision by the Somaliland government to take the load off the ship, brushing off calls from different administration, including the neighboring Puntland region which accused Somaliland of arming militants fighting its troops.

There was no immediate comment from Somaliland which kept details of the ship confidential on the status of the 'illegal' arms' it offloaded at Berbera, the breakaway region's largest port after ten
days of considerations.

The development follows accusations from Puntland security minister who warned of a potential war between the two administrations in the wake of the seizure of a ship arms and battlewagons by Somaliland which he said was intended for arming Al-Shabab fighters fighting Puntland forces in the mountainous Galgala village.

Somaliland which declared an independence from the rest of Somalia in 1991 is yet to gain an international recognition. However, Puntland maintains it's status of being parts of Somalia.

The prolonged conflict between Somaliland and Puntland started in 1998, when Puntland was formed and it declared towns claimed by Somaliland as part of its territory.

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