Somalia: Puntland bans Turkish fishing firm SOMTURK

MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Puntland has banned Turkish commercial fishing company SOMTURK from operating in waters under its jurisdiction, the latest flashpoint in an escalating dispute with Somalia’s federal government that has increasingly extended beyond politics and security into the management of natural resources.

SOMTURK, the newly established commercial fishing arm of Turkey’s military pension fund Oyak, was licensed by Somalia’s federal government to operate across all Somali territorial waters.

Puntland rejected the arrangement, saying it was not consulted before the licence was issued. The regional administration also argued that Mogadishu has yet to reach a final agreement with the country’s federal member states on the sharing of natural resources, making the authorization unacceptable.

The dispute unfolds amid worsening relations between Puntland and the federal government.

Weeks ago, Puntland barred Mogadishu from recruiting militias in the region and prohibited federal-allied militias from making military movements or travelling between Puntland’s major cities.

Despite the ban, the federal government continued to airlift weapons and military equipment to allied forces in Puntland, fuelling fears that the standoff could develop into an all-out armed conflict between the two sides.

The latest disagreement also carries economic significance. The waters off Puntland’s coastline are among Somalia’s richest fishing grounds for yellowfin tuna, with the main fishing season typically running from November to April.

Regional analyst Rashid Abdi said the fishing dispute comes as political and military tensions between Garowe and Mogadishu continue to mount, while also pointing to Turkey’s growing role in the crisis.

“The new spat comes as tensions escalate between Mogadishu and Garowe with reports of a big buildup of federal troops in the north, shipment of arms to anti-Puntland militias and moves by Turkey to encroach on Galmudug, on the southern flank of Puntland, and militarise the Port of Hobyo,” he said.

Abdi said Turkey appears to be backing Mogadishu in its confrontation with Puntland’s leadership.

“Mogadishu is openly mobilising opposition to remove Deni and Turkey appears to be supportive,” he added.

The dispute comes against the backdrop of increasingly sharp public exchanges between Somalia’s federal and Puntland leaders.

In a recent speech, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud accused Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni of dividing the country and severing relations with the federal government.

Deni has made similar accusations against the Somali president, accusing him of pursuing policies that would balkanize the country.

The disagreement over SOMTURK’s fishing operations underscores how the deepening rift between Mogadishu and Puntland is increasingly spilling into disputes over security, governance and the control of Somalia’s natural resources, further straining relations between the two sides.

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