GAROWE, Somalia Oct 3 (Garowe Online) - A Cabinet minister in Somalia's Puntland State government has said that Puntland soldiers will board a French warship as observers, Radio Garowe reports.

Mr. Mohamed Farah Aden, Puntland's Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources, told the Puntland-based independent station Radio Garowe during a Saturday interview that Puntland government officials recently met with French military commanders aboard a naval warship.

"We met French commanders and discussed ways the French Navy could help protect our marine resources and they informed us that they do not violate our country's rights," Fisheries Minister Aden said.

Further, the French commanders "asked us [Puntland] to send four soldiers on patrol with French naval warships but we declined," he added. "Finally, we agreed to send two Puntland soldiers on patrol with the French Navy."

But Puntland's Fisheries Minister categorically rejected media reports that the French military was training Puntland soldiers to fight pirates.

"Such reports are false and I encourage journalists to confirm their news," Minister Aden said, adding: "Our soldiers went on patrol [with the French Navy] to prepare a report about foreign military activity off our coast, however, there are no Puntland soldiers being trained by the French Navy."

Puntland's Fisheries Minister went on to say that discussions with the French military commanders included media reports of foreign military helicopters hunting wildlife along Somalia's long coastline, especially the Puntland regions.

The French commanders said they are "not involved" and did "not know who is behind" cases of foreign military helicopters hunting wildlife, including deer, ostrich and pigs, in rural and coastal areas of Somalia.

"As the Ministry of Fisheries, we are in no position to stop illegal acts of hunting wildlife but we will investigate," Minister Aden said.

Lastly, Puntland's Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister urged the Somali public to understand that "foreign military off the Somali coast are not working for Somali interests but are pursuing their own interests."

Naval warships from many countries, including the U.S., France and China, are patrolling Somalia's long coast and especially waters around Puntland State in an effort to prevent pirate attacks.

Puntland is located at a strategic position and has shores along the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean and is considered the very tip of the Horn of Africa sub-region.

RELATED:
READ: Somalia nomads complain of foreign military stealing wildlife

Source: Garowe Online