Garowe (AX) — Puntland State has demanded an explanation from the countries operating unnamed international warships after shelling was reported off its coast on Aug. 18 and 20, with the regional administration saying fishermen and civilian property may have been hit.
In a statement issued Saturday, Puntland State’s Ministry of Security and Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) voiced concern over the possible consequences of military activity in the Garmaal area. The coastal zone is near locations where vessels seized by pirates are reportedly being held.
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The ministry warned that the shelling could damage cooperation between Puntland State security agencies and international partners working to suppress piracy. It also cautioned that operations in the area risk harming civilians with no connection to pirate activity.
Puntland State urged the governments responsible for the warships involved in the reported bombardment to provide an immediate account of the operations, including their purpose and the circumstances surrounding them.
The regional government said it was separately examining reports that people or groups from outside Puntland State could be involved in the latest resurgence of piracy.
Puntland State said it had strengthened security forces and government authorities in its coastal districts. It also reaffirmed its readiness to work with international partners to fight piracy and help secure the release of vessels being held by pirate groups.
The statement followed the burial Thursday of four suspected Somali pirates in Garmaal, a coastal area of Puntland State’s Nugaal region, after a reported Turkish strike.
The men were reportedly killed when a strike hit a small boat carrying people allegedly connected to the hijacking of a commercial vessel.
Relatives of the dead accused Turkey of carrying out the strike. Turkish authorities and Somalia’s federal government, however, had not issued comments on the reported attack.
The episode comes as piracy resurges along Somalia’s coastline, heightening concern over the security of commercial shipping and drawing renewed focus from Somali and international security agencies.
