Somalia has accused Ethiopia of an unauthorized arms shipment to its Puntland region, claiming a breach of sovereignty. In a statement issued on September 20, 2024, Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs alleged that two lorries transported weapons from Ethiopia to Puntland without diplomatic clearance. The Somali government described the incident as a serious violation of national and regional security.
This accusation follows previous reports of similar arms transfers to the Galmudug region and a weapons shipment flown into Baidoa. Somalia claims these actions represent an ongoing disregard for its sovereignty. Ethiopia has not yet responded to the allegations, but tensions between the two nations have been rising, especially after Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia.
Somalia has called for an immediate halt to these activities, appealing to regional and international partners to intervene. The government emphasized its preference for resolving the issue through diplomatic dialogue. These developments come shortly after the United Nations lifted a decades-long arms embargo on Somalia, as the country seeks to regain control from militias and confront internal divisions.
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