African Political Crisis: Somalia Accuses Ethiopia Of Sending Illegal Weapons To Puntland

Puntland troops, a semi-autonomous area in northeastern Somalia that aspires to become a clan confederation-shaped country. (X/@DailyJubba)

Somali accused Ethiopia of sending weapons without authorization from authorities to the semi-autonomous state of Puntland.

Somalia's Foreign Ministry said the shipment of weapons violated its country's sovereignty and threatened regional security.

"This action is a serious violation of Somalia's sovereignty and has serious implications for national and regional security," the Somali Foreign Ministry said as reported by Anadolu, Saturday (21/9).

The ministry added that documented evidence confirmed the arrival of two trucks transporting weapons from Ethiopia to the Puntland region in Somalia that were executed without involvement or diplomatic clearance, signaling a clear violation of Somalia's territorial sovereignty.

The latest incident reflects an earlier illegal shipment of weapons from Ethiopia with reports of weapons transported in the same way to the Galmudug region and other weapons flown to Baidoa via plane, the ministry said.

Somalia asks for an immediate termination of the violation.

The allegation of the shipment comes amid rising tensions between the two countries over the agreement on sea access between Ethiopia and the breakaway region, Somaliland.

Somalia rejected the illegal Red Sea port agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland and called it a threat to good relations between neighbors and violations of the country's sovereignty.

As a result, Somalia recalled its ambassador to Ethiopia after the deal was announced.

However, Turkey has sought to end tensions between the two countries of the Horn of Africa, but the recent negotiations in Ankara have not yielded results.