The President of Puntland, His Excellency Said Abdullahi Deni, today received a delegation from the Turkish Government led by the Turkish Ambassador to Somalia Alper Aktaş.
Last month, authorities in Somalia’s northeastern Puntland state intercepted the Turkish cargo vessel reportedly carrying advanced military equipment destined for the federal government in Mogadishu, escalating tensions between the two sides.
The Sea World vessel docked in Puntland on 19 July, where local authorities launched an investigation into its cargo. The ship was found transporting modern armored personnel carriers (APCs), anti-aircraft guns, and other military-grade weapons.
The Turkish delegation’s visit followed after talks between Puntland and Turkey regarding the ship, according to Puntland officials the Turkish Government shared with the administration documents that it owns all the assets on board.
“The Puntland government, after the evidence submitted by the Turkish government and the investigation conducted on the ship and its cargo, has decided to transfer responsibility for the MV Sea World and the assets on board to the Turkish government” the statement released by the Puntland government says.
