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Somaliland expresses concern as civilians seize heavy weapons in central Somalia
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    Wednesday July 17, 2024

    Hargeisa (HOL) - The Somaliland Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed concern over heavy weapons seized by civilians when militiamen ambushed two truckloads of arms in central Somalia on Monday.

    In a press release on Tuesday, the Ministry stated that over the past three months, Al Shabab has successfully seized substantial quantities of weaponry from government forces in central Somalia. The recent incident in the Abdudwak district underscores the critical security situation.

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    "These developments serve as a serious reminder of the Somaliland government's and other frontline states' longstanding concerns regarding lifting the arms embargo on Somalia. Despite our earnest warnings, the embargo was lifted in December 2023. The subsequent proliferation of these captured arms, now widely documented on social media, raises serious questions about the wisdom and timing of this decision," the statement added.

    The Somaliland Ministry of Foreign Affairs also stated that the federal government cannot secure its arms stockpiles and called on the United Nations and the international community to re-evaluate their decision to lift the arms embargo urgently.

    "We urge the international community to take immediate steps to address this crisis and prevent further destabilization of the region," it noted.

    At least 12 people were killed in the Abdudwak district as government soldiers and local militias fought over two truckloads of weapons illegally brought over the border from Ethiopia. The incident occurred in Shiilamaow village, about 20 kilometres northwest of Abdudwak district, close to the Ethiopian border.

    The Internal Security Ministry said government security forces had seized the weapons from "illegal weapons traders" and were escorting them when armed militias erected a checkpoint and intercepted the arms. The local militias overpowered government forces after receiving reinforcements from clan members, the official added.

    The Somali government did not disclose the quantity of the weapons, but a security official told VOA Somali that the arms included two truckloads of DshK and PKM machine guns, AK-47 assault rifles, pistols, and ammunition.

    The government has appealed to local residents and elders for help in returning the weapons to government hands.

    In December of last year, the United Nations Security Council fully lifted a weapons embargo on Somalia, which had been in place since 1992. The Somali government has been attempting to reassert control of the country from armed militias and al-Shabab militants.

     





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