By:-Ismail Warsame.
Bosaso,Bari Puntland – In a dramatic and high-stakes intervention, Puntland State Marine Forces have intercepted a vessel carrying a deadly cargo: a significant shipment of heavy armored weapons reportedly destined for non-state factions in Mogadishu, and potentially, the fledgling Federal Government itself. This seizure isn’t just a routine bust; it’s a stark and terrifying symptom of a dangerous new phase engulfing Somalia.
For decades, the flow of small arms into South-Central Somalia has been a tragic constant, a relentless undercurrent fueling violence even at the height of the Civil War. Mogadishu’s myriad factions are, as reports rightly state, already “armed to the teeth” with these weapons. But what we are witnessing now is fundamentally different, and far more perilous.
The New, Devastating Reality: Heavy Weapons Enter the Fray
The alarming novelty lies in the extraordinary flow of heavy weaponry– armored vehicles, sophisticated artillery, powerful anti-armor systems – now finding its way to the warring factions. This escalation coincides directly with the premature and controversial lifting of the UN Arms Embargo on Somalia. While ostensibly intended to bolster the Somali National Army in its fight against Al-Shabaab, the reality on the ground paints a far bleaker picture.
Instead of strengthening the central state, this lifting appears to have opened dubious routes exploited by clandestine parties. Powerful external actors, regional players with vested interests, and internal spoilers seem to be leveraging the loosened restrictions to flood the volatile Mogadishu landscape with tools of mass destruction. This isn’t reinforcement; it’s a deliberate act of strategic arson
Puntland’s Dilemma: A Seized Arsenal and Weighty Choices
The seized vessel now sits in a Puntland port, its lethal contents under guard. Its interception by Puntland forces is a significant act, demonstrating both capability and a clear stance against the uncontrolled proliferation threatening the entire Horn of Africa. But the seizure is only the first act. Puntland society is now embroiled in a crucial and urgent debate: What to do with this arsenal?
The options are fraught with consequence:
1. Destruction: The most definitive, and perhaps safest, course. Destroying the weapons removes them permanently from the equation, sending the strongest possible message against illicit arms trafficking. However, it requires significant resources and technical capability.
2. Handover to the Federal Government (FGS): A gesture of federal unity? Or a naive gamble? Given the reported destination included factions within Mogadishu, possibly even elements linked to the FGS itself, and the FGS’s perceived fragility and lack of cohesive control over its own security apparatus, many in Puntland view this option with extreme skepticism. Would these weapons simply fuel the very fires they were meant to extinguish?
3. Utilization by Puntland Security Forces: Argued by some as necessary for Puntland’s own defense against an increasingly unstable south and the persistent Al-Shabaab threat. However, this risks escalating regional tensions and could be portrayed as Puntland itself becoming a stockpiler, undermining the moral high ground of the seizure.
4. International Custody/Disposal: Seeking UN or AU assistance to take custody and ensure secure, verifiable disposal. This might be the most transparent option but relies on complex international cooperation and logistics.
Beyond the Seizure: A Nation at the Precipice
The debate in Puntland is more than a local issue; it’s a microcosm of Somalia’s existential crisis. The unchecked flow of heavy weapons, facilitated by the questionable lifting of the embargo and shadowy actors, is catastrophically destabilizing. It empowers warlords, undermines any semblance of state monopoly on force, makes large-scale conventional warfare terrifyingly feasible, and ultimately, drowns out any hope for genuine political dialogue or reconciliation.
The international community must look beyond Mogadishu. Puntland’s action has exposed a critical breach. Urgent questions demand answers:
* Who is behind these clandestine shipments?
* How are they bypassing what should be enhanced monitoring post-embargo?
* Why was the embargo lifted without robust, verifiable mechanisms to prevent exactly this scenario?
The seizure in Bosaso is a warning flare. Ignoring the systemic failure allowing heavy weapons to flood Somalia is not an option. The debate within Puntland is a test – not just for its own leadership, but for the conscience of Somalia and its international partners. The choices made regarding this seized arsenal will send ripples across the region. The path of peace requires not just intercepting the weapons, but decisively dismantling the deadly networks that deliver them and demanding accountability for those who enable this descent into potentially unimaginable violence. The time for decisive action, both in Bosaso and beyond, is now. Somalia cannot afford another descent into the abyss fueled by heavy metal and foreign agendas.