 BOSSASO, Somalia -- Yemen crisis spurred smuggling of arms consignment into Somalia’s northeastern state of Puntland according to multiple independent sources, Garowe Online reports.
GO learned that Yemeni businessmen clinched agreements with Somali arms dealers to sell weaponry on markets, already prompting concerns over the consequence of the damaging move by Puntland government officials.
Sources who spoke to GO said, first consignment was spotted in Bari coastal towns where Yemenis on dhows have long traded on catches in territorial waters. Armed conflict experts told GO that the flood of illegal weapons from Yemen could have adverse effect on regional security.
| The arms or the thugs holding them? |
Presidential spokesman Abdullahi Quranjecel said on VOA Somali service that Puntland will be keeping vigil on Somalis fleeing from Yemen.
| You don't need a vigil, you need to jug them -- or send them back to Yemen... |
Undisclosed number of convicted Somali pirates was freed in an attack on prison by Al Qaeda in the port city of Mukallah on Friday. |