Somalia: Puntland to boost surveillance after weapons haul off Oman

GAROWE, Somalia-Puntland government in northern Somalia has issued new orders in a bid to boost surveillance on sea following the seizure of a large haul of weapons destined for Somalia, Garowe Online reports.

At a weekly cabinet meeting chaired by Vice President Abdihakin Abdullahi Haji Omar, the cabinet underlined the need to deter any security threat, pointing to the interception of fishing boat loaded with almost 2000 AK-47 assault rifles, 100 rocket-propelled grenade launchers, machine guns, spare barrels and mortar tubes nearly 300km off Oman coast.

Australian Chief of Joint Operations Command, Vice Admiral David Johnston, unveiled that the weapons cache headed towards the East African country was concealed beneath nets in the fishing dhow on March 6.

“Also, the cabinet focused on the seizure of boat carrying [Somalia-bound] haul, and dangers emanating from flow of weapons into Somalia,” presidential spokesman, Abdullahi Mohamed Jama said in statement.

Continuing, he noted that the government ordered security services to remain vigilant against any possible security threat.

Meanwhile, the weekly cabinet meeting threw light on the drought that hit almost 65 pc of Puntland and listened to report by Planning Ministry.

Puntland said, it ramped up water aid by refurbishing 11 water wells and expanding distribution of water trucks to 75 centres.

Australia is part of multinational efforts to subdue terrorism and piracy off the coast of Somalia.

GAROWEONLINE