Garowe (Dawan Africa)– Puntland, a federal member state of Somalia, has rejected reports from the Federal Government regarding the detained MV Sea World vessel, which claimed that the ship was carrying commercial goods. Puntland firmly stated that the entire cargo aboard the vessel consists solely of military equipment.
In a statement issued Wednesday from the office of the President of Puntland, the authorities provided a detailed account of the events surrounding the MV Sea World. On 18 July 2025, the Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) intercepted the vessel after it had been loitering for two days near the Bareda coast in the Ras Asayr region.
Puntland officials explained that the operation was carried out based on intelligence reports about suspicious activities surrounding the vessel, with Puntland forces securing both the ship and its cargo to prevent unauthorized access.
Puntland authorities further revealed that Somali traders based in Mogadishu contacted them on the same day the vessel was seized, claiming ownership of the cargo and requesting its immediate release. In addition, the Turkish Ambassador to Somalia reached out, indicating that the cargo aboard the MV Sea World might belong to the Turkish government.
The statement from Puntland also clarified that between 18 and 23 July 2025, no official communication had been received from the Federal Government of Somalia regarding the vessel or its cargo, leading to confusion over the true ownership of the cargo. Puntland categorically emphasized that the MV Sea World was carrying exclusively military equipment and no commercial goods.
As stated in the Puntland press release, "The cargo aboard the MV Sea World consists entirely of military equipment, and there are no commercial goods aboard." Puntland has assured that the investigation into the vessel and the rightful ownership of its cargo continues and the involvement of both the Federal Government of Somalia and the Turkish government in the ongoing investigation has been welcomed.
Puntland reiterated its commitment to cooperating with both Somali federal authorities and Turkey to finalize the investigation and determine the rightful ownership of the cargo aboard the MV Sea World.
