Ethiopia Continues to Smuggle Illegal Weapons into Somalia
On July 16, 2024, a significant shipment of illegal weapons from Ethiopia made its way into Somalia, specifically into the Galgaduud region. These weapons, initially intended for unknown purposes, were quickly looted by clan militias and have since flooded Somalia’s black market. Yesterday, Mogadishu Police Commissioner Macalin Mahdi displayed several of these illicit weapons, which were recently confiscated in an illegal arms market.
According to authorities, these weapons were part of the same shipment that crossed into Somalia from Ethiopia in mid-July. The weapons were looted by militias and sold off to various black-market dealers. Notably, even extremist group Al-Shabaab is believed to have acquired some of these weapons, as confirmed by a known arms dealer, Ali Daynuunay, who regularly operates in the region.
When questioned about the ongoing smuggling operations, Daynuunay provided insight into the situation, stating that Ethiopia’s current economic challenges are contributing to the rise in illegal arms trading. He revealed that another recent shipment from Ethiopia had arrived in Puntland, with different portions allocated for various recipients. According to his associate, Dhibil, who resides in Boosaaso, the shipment included weapons for arms traders, the Puntland government, and a large supply of ammunition rather than small arms.
Daynuunay clarified that groups based in the Mudug region had a stake in this latest shipment as well. He emphasized that this arms trafficking is not part of a strategic plan by the Ethiopian government but rather a result of Ethiopia’s ongoing economic collapse. As the country struggles financially, individuals with access to Ethiopia’s military arsenal are reportedly selling off weapons to survive.
While Daynuunay does not believe that the Ethiopian government is directly involved in the smuggling operations, he suspects that some officials might be exploiting the situation to funnel weapons into Somalia through illicit means. He also noted that this smuggling trend has been ongoing since the internal conflict in Ethiopia began in 2021, suggesting a broader breakdown of control over the country’s arms resources.
As illegal arms continue to circulate in Somalia, concerns about regional stability and security grow. The influx of these weapons not only fuels local militias and criminal networks but also poses a serious threat to national and international efforts to combat terrorism and maintain peace in the region.
