The Minister of Information Hon. Mohamed Muse Diriye reminded that there is a weapons embargo in effect that prohibits Somalia from importing weapons. The Minister added that Somalia is actively seeking to acquire new arms from Eritrea and Turkey and added that others have already delivered shipments of armament to Somalia in violation of the UN weapons’s embargo.

“We all know that Farmajo’s government based out of Villa Somalia has been trying to acquire weapons and that they have asked Eritrea and Turkey and that other countries that I do not want to name have already given weapons to them [Somalia]”, said Minister Diriye.

The Minister stated that weapons acquisition by Somalia would endanger Somaliland and the Horn of Africa at large.

Turkey’s MPT-76 Rifle



Somali Army units with Turkish supplied weapons.

Turkey has given military equipment including to Somalia and is currently operating its only military base overseas in Mogadishu where it trains the Somali National Army. Many units of the Somali National Army, particularly those trained by Turkey are currently fielding weapons made and supplied by Turkey.

In addition to Turkey, on January this year, Qatar has supplied armored trucks to the Somali government.





Armored vehicles supplied by Qatar to Somalia in January 2019

In his stern warning to the International community and particularly to IGAD and the African Union, the Minister reiterated the need to enforce the arms embargo currently in effect in Somalia.

The Minister of information in his address to the International community through the local media stated that “We want the world to be careful and if they allow him to get weapons, we too should be allowed to import weapons”.

The Minister did not name Turkey and Qatar in his press statement.