Mogadishu (Dawan Africa) – Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, the former Prime Minister of Somalia, has called on Puntland authorities to release the MV Sea World vessel immediately, following his meeting with the Turkish Ambassador to Somalia.
Sharmarke shared details from his conversation with the Ambassador on his X (formerly Twitter) account today, stating, “In a meeting with the Turkish ambassador today, I was informed that the MV Sea World vessel was carrying military equipment for TURKISOM. The Ambassador stated that he reached out to Puntland but to no avail.” Based on this, Sharmarke emphasized that Puntland has a legal obligation to release the vessel without delay.
The MV Sea World was intercepted on July 18, 2025, by the Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) off the coast of Bareda, after suspicions arose that the ship was carrying unauthorized weapons, according to Puntland authorities. Puntland claims that the ship had been loitering in its waters, although they acknowledged that Turkey had formally reached out and confirmed the ship’s mission, but they insisted on further inspection.
However, the Federal Government of Somalia maintains that the cargo aboard the vessel is part of a legitimate military shipment, in line with a bilateral defense agreement with Turkey. The Turkish Government has also confirmed this, asserting that the shipment adheres to both national and international laws and Called for Immediate Release of MV Sea World.
The incident surrounding the MV Sea World has further strained relations between Puntland and the Federal Government, especially since both sides already having been strained.
TURKISOM (Turkish-Somali Military Training Center), located in Mogadishu, is a key facility for training Somali National Army (SNA) forces, playing a central role in Somali-Turkish military cooperation.
Sharmarke’s statement is seen as placing political and legal pressure on Puntland to act swiftly and follow Somalia’s national defense laws and international agreements.
