A large shipment of weapons, reportedly purchased by the Puntland administration from Ethiopia, has successfully reached its destination amidst a foiled robbery attempt. The incident, reminiscent of a similar occurrence in July, raises alarms about escalating cross-border arms flows and instability in the region.

Armed militiamen attempted to seize the weapons convoy near the Somali-Ethiopia border, resulting in a heavy exchange of gunfire. However, swift intervention by local Ethiopian forces thwarted the robbery, ensuring the weapons’ safe delivery to Puntland authorities this morning.

This incident comes at a time of heightened tension between Somalia and Ethiopia, fuelled by a controversial maritime agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland. The increased flow of weapons across the border, coupled with recent lootings like the July incident in Abudwak where two lorries carrying thousands of firearms were seized by civilians, further aggravates the already precarious security situation.

Concerns are mounting about the implications of these developments for regional stability. The Somali government has issued a strong condemnation of the unauthorized arms shipment, calling it a “grave infringement on Somalia’s sovereignty.”