Somaliland Navy Seizes Boats & Weapon Shipment during Coastal Operation
The Somaliland Navy has successfully intercepted a massive stockpile of weaponry thought to be meant for pirate groups that have surfaced recently from the Red Sea, according to information released by Somaliland Interior Minister Mohamed Kahin Ahmed on Tuesday December 20, 2023.
The Somaliland Administration believes that the firearms confiscated were going to be used by pirate organizations along the coast of Somaliland, Minister Kahin stated in a statement to the media.
He underlined the vital role that the navy forces play in protecting Somaliland’s coastlines, and announced the capture of two boats intended for illicit activities.
Minister Kahin addressed the rising tension in the Red Sea, especially in light of the recent spike in pirate assaults. He emphasized Somaliland’s will to effectively defend its coastlines and counteract security risks associated with piracy
“The time when the Somali government claimed jurisdiction over the borders and coasts of Somaliland has passed, and on this issue, we will interact with the global community.” affirmed minister Kahin
The minister said that no illegal activity will be allowed near Somaliland’s shore. He emphasized that Somaliland has taken action to stop acts of piracy and smuggling from its beaches, with its 850 km of coastline guarded by its navy.
The statement coincides with an increasing resurgence of Somali pirates in Somalia’s coastal regions, particularly close to Puntland, one of the country’s member states.
Suspected pirates have on Monday hijacked unidentified ship in the Somali coast, according Puntland State Officials.
The attack on the ship, which was about 12 miles into the Somali Sea, was carried out by 16 to 17 armed gunmen suspected of being pirates, according to Ahmed Yassin Salah, the state minister for ports and crimes against maritime affairs for Puntland Region Administration. He told reporters that this was the second such incident to occur in the region in three weeks.
The Republic of Somaliland voiced serious worries earlier this month on the reappearance of pirates in the Red Sea. The administration warned that the rise in piracy would have an economic impact, pointing to possible increases in living expenses and marine insurance premiums for ships.