What has happened to the promised investigation by the Puntland Government regarding the MV Sea World—the mysterious ship intercepted off the coast of Bareda carrying heavy weapons? The public was told there would be a full disclosure. There was supposed to be accountability. Yet weeks have passed, and the silence is deafening.

When the vessel was captured, it sparked national concern. A ship loaded with military-grade arms docking quietly on the Somali coast is not just a security matter—it is a national emergency. Who sent it? Who was it meant for? Was it linked to terrorists, local militias, foreign actors, or worse—a shadow operation by a state entity? These are not questions we can afford to ignore.

But ignore them we did. Or rather, the Puntland authorities decided the public didn’t deserve answers.

A Government That Deals in Shadows

Instead of transparency, what we are witnessing appears to be another backroom deal—the kind of shady maneuvering that has come to define President Said Abdullahi Deni’s administration. The MV Sea World case, once heralded as a breakthrough for Puntland’s maritime security efforts, has instead turned into a symbol of state-level complicity or, at best, cowardice in the face of international pressure.

Reports are now circulating that the Turkish Ambassador to Mogadishu flew to Bosaso, and in what can only be described as a cloak-and-dagger operation, the MV Sea World was handed over to Turkish custody. No adequate explanation. No meaningful public statement. No accountability. What gives the Turkish government the authority to interfere in Puntland’s security jurisdiction without going through proper diplomatic or legal channels?

And what happened to the UN Arms Monitoring Group, supposedly tasked with tracking all such suspicious shipments in the region? Their silence is equally troubling. Are we witnessing a coordinated cover-up, involving international powers, meant to avoid scrutiny into who was behind the weapons and their intended destination?

A Pattern of Betrayal

This is not an isolated case. Puntland’s leadership has increasingly shown a disturbing willingness to sacrifice public trust and national sovereignty for secretive deals and foreign appeasement. Whether it is the rise of ISIS in the Cal-Miskaad Mountains, the surrender of Bari Region’s maritime integrity, or now this arms shipment, President Deni’s administration appears incapable—or unwilling—to put the people’s security first.

The people of Puntland are not blind. They have been demanding answers, only to be met with silence. Is the MV Sea World incident being buried to protect foreign interests? Was Puntland’s coast being used as an arms transit corridor? Was the Turkish government involved directly, or simply cleaning up a mess created by others?

Demand for Accountability

This editorial is a call for full disclosure. The Puntland Government must release:

The official findings of the MV Sea World investigation (if it ever took place).

The identities of those behind the weapons.

The exact circumstances under which the Turkish ambassador was allowed to assume control of the vessel.

The communications between Puntland officials and the Federal Government or foreign diplomats regarding the ship.

Furthermore, we call on the UN Panel of Experts on Somalia to explain their silence and disclose any intelligence they have on the MV Sea World arms shipment. The international community cannot claim to support peace in Somalia while looking the other way when blatant arms smuggling takes place under their noses.

If Puntland’s leaders think they can brush this incident under the rug, they are mistaken. The people deserve the truth. Anything less is a betrayal not just of Puntland’s sovereignty, but of its very future.

WDM – Warsame Digital Media
Where Truth Matters.