Saturday September 21, 2024
FILE - Weapons are displayed in Mogadishu following a security operation.
Mogadishu (HOL) — The Federal Government of Somalia has issued a sharp condemnation of Ethiopia, accusing its neighbour of illegally smuggling arms into Somalia's Puntland region, a move officials say endangers national security and violates Somalia's sovereignty.
In a statement released Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said two trucks carrying weapons crossed into Puntland from Ethiopia without any diplomatic notice or clearance. "This action constitutes a grave infringement on Somalia's sovereignty and poses serious implications for national and regional security," the Ministry warned.
Somalia also alleged that this was not an isolated incident, noting that previous shipments of illegal arms have entered the country through various points, including deliveries flown into Baidoa in the South West regional state. "Such recurrent activities indicate an ongoing disregard for Somalia's sovereignty," the Ministry said, demanding an immediate halt to Ethiopia's actions.
The Somali government urged Ethiopia to cease its unlawful activities and called on regional and international partners to denounce the smuggling of weapons into its territory. "We call upon our regional and international partners to reinforce our collective efforts to uphold peace and stability in the region," the statement added.
Ethiopian officials have not yet responded to these latest accusations; however, in a statement issued on July 26, Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed previous claims as "baseless." The statement followed a July 16 report from the Somali government, which said its security forces had seized two truckloads of weapons smuggled over the border by "illegal weapons traders."
Recent Ethiopian military activity in Somalia has further strained relations between the two neighbours. On multiple occasions in recent months, Ethiopian troops crossed into Somalia's Hiiraan region under the guise of addressing al-Shabaab threats. These incursions, which were carried out without formal coordination with Somali authorities, have sparked confrontations with local security forces. Somalia's UN envoy, Abukar Dahir Osman, formally protested to the United Nations Security Council about the troop movements, which have become a key factor in delaying the withdrawal of African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) forces, which were initially planned for July but postponed to September due to these tensions. Ethiopian officials have yet to offer a formal response, deepening diplomatic friction.
The Somali government has taken a firm stance against Ethiopian involvement in the forthcoming African Union Support Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), citing Ethiopia's controversial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Somaliland. Signed in early 2024, the MoU allows Ethiopia access to 20 kilometres of the Red Sea coastline in exchange for potential recognition of Somaliland's independence—a deal Mogadishu has deemed illegal. Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has publicly declared that Ethiopian troops will not be welcome in the new peacekeeping mission unless Ethiopia annuls the agreement with Somaliland.
Somalia has made several diplomatic efforts to assert its sovereignty in light of increasing tensions with Ethiopia, garnering support from international bodies such as the United Nations and the Arab League, both of which have reaffirmed Somalia's territorial integrity and called for peaceful resolutions to the disputes stemming from Ethiopia's actions.
This latest arms smuggling incident comes as the Somali government attempts to curb illegal weapons trafficking across the country. On Thursday, Somali police seized 33 AK-47 rifles and four PKM machine guns during a security operation in the Banadir region, arresting four arms traders. The operation followed a July 2024 resolution by the Somali cabinet that prohibited the arms trade by non-state actors. Authorities have urged civilians to cooperate with security forces to combat the ongoing arms trade.
