The Government of the Republic of Somaliland has voiced deep concern over the alarming increase in arms proliferation in Somalia, underscored by recent developments.
Over the past three months, Al Shabab militants have seized significant quantities of weaponry from government forces in central Somalia. Additionally, a recent incident in Aabud Waq saw civilians and clan militias capture a large cache of weapons and ammunition from the Mogadishu government, highlighting the dire security situation.
Abudwaq clan elders and security officials in Galmudug confirmed that local militia intercepted the weapons after a clash with Somali National Intelligence Agents (NISA) who were escorting the illicit arms. The Marehan militia stopped two large trucks transporting the weapons at Shiila Madow on the Ethiopian border before the clashes erupted, resulting in several deaths. Locals who seized the weapons reported that the two trucks contained 150 to 200 DsSHK heavy machine guns, 500 PK general-purpose machine guns, 200 to 260 M16 sniper rifles, over 2,200 AK-47 rifles, more than 800 pistols with silencers, and a large quantity of ammunition. As a result, the price of guns fell dramatically on Tuesday, with AK-47s selling for as low as USD 100 in black markets.
“These developments serve as a serious reminder of the Somaliland government’s and other frontline states’ longstanding concerns regarding the lifting of the arms embargo on Somalia,” stated the government. Despite fervent warnings, the embargo was lifted in December 2023, leading to widespread documentation of captured arms on social media, raising serious questions about the decision’s wisdom and timing.
Galmudug officials believe the arms, though entering from Ethiopia, were supplied from Djibouti with the involvement of businessmen and arms dealers, including Abdinasir Ali Adoon, a Hawiye businessman and business partner of President Hassan Sheikh. Abdinasir was a chief financier of President Mohamud’s election campaign in May 2022.
Two others implicated are Libaan Ahmed Hassan (Libaan Shuluq), the chief head of logistics for Somali government forces in Galmudug and a presidential candidate for Galmudug State, and Sadaq Omar Hassan (Sadaq John), a Somali Parliament member and former NISA and police chief in Mogadishu, who is also the son-in-law of Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh. None of the three individuals responded to queries for comments. Liibaan Shuluq’s aide stated that Liibaan returned to Galkayo yesterday from a trip and could not immediately comment.
Given the Mogadishu government’s apparent inability to secure its arms stockpiles and the potentially catastrophic consequences, the Somaliland government calls upon the United Nations and the International Community to urgently re-evaluate their decision to lift the arms embargo.
