NAIROBI: Somalia has accused Ethiopia of supplying weapons to its northeastern Puntland region amid growing tensions between the Horn of Africa neighbours.

There is a history of stormy relations between Ethiopia and Somalia — a fragile jigsaw of federal states, whose instability weakens the central government’s ability to counter a long-running insurgency by militant group Al Shabaab.

Tensions increased on Jan 1 when Addis Ababa signed a deal with another northern region of Somalia — the breakaway territory of Somaliland — which gives landlocked Ethiopia access to the ocean.

“Somalia strongly condemns the unauthorised arms shipments from Ethiopia to Somalia’s Puntland region, violating our sovereignty and threatening regional security,” the foreign ministry in Mogadishu said on X late on Friday.

“We demand an immediate halt and call on international partners to support peace efforts in the Horn of Africa.” The Puntland region, which has been a semi-autonomous part of Somalia since 1998, said in January it would operate as an independent state following a row with the central government over changes to the constitution.

In its post on X, the Somali foreign ministry said: “Documented evidence confirms the arrival of two lorries transporting weapons from Ethiopia to Puntland region of Somalia, executed without any diplomatic engagement or clearance.” “This activity constitutes a grave infringement on Somalia’s sovereignty and poses serious implications for national and regional security.” It did not say when the shipment occurred or to whom the weapons were sent.

“Somalia demands an immediate cessation of these transgressions by Ethiopia,” the statement added.

Three locals in Garowe, the capital of Puntland, said they had seen a convoy arrive there on Friday evening, escorted by vehicles of the Puntland security forces. “I had heard talk of an arms delivery from Ethiopia a few days ago,” said one of them, Mohamed Dalel.

“I saw a convoy enter Garowe last night (Friday) made up of two big trucks and several cars, escorted by the Puntland security forces,” he added.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2024