Somaliland
Somaliland jails Russians over weapons for Puntland
December 30, 2010 · 12 Comments
Six Russians have been jailed in the northern Somali breakaway territory of Somaliland.
Their aircraft was seized earlier this month carrying military equipment bound for the neighbouring semi-autonomous state of Puntland.
A court sentenced them to a year in jail and fined them $500 for supplying military equipment to an enemy.
The charterer of the plane, Saracens International, denied that the cargo was illegal.
The Russians were also convicted of violating Somaliland’s airspace. The uniforms and mines which were found on board the aircraft were confiscated by the court in the Somaliland capital, Hargeisa.
Disputed territory
After the arrests were made, the interior minister of Somaliland, Mohamed Abdi Gaboosi, said the cargo was in violation of the United Nations arms embargo on Somalia.
Saracens – a private military contractor, which is based in Uganda and South Africa – told the BBC at the time that the cargo was destined for its operation in Puntland, where it is training an anti-piracy force.
Somaliland declared itself independent from Somalia in the early 1990s, but is not internationally recognised. It is relatively stable, unlike the rest of Somalia, and even organises regular elections.
However, it has a border dispute with Puntland and the two security forces occasionally clash.
Unlike Somaliland, Puntland says it does not seek recognition as an independent entity, wishing instead to be part of a federal Somalia.
Somalia has not had an effective national government since 1991.
Source: BBC
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By Mo Guled
Tags: Puntland, Russian Airline, Somaliland
Readers Comments (12)
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That is nothing. It is a slab on the hand and not enough in comparison to the violation of the United Nations arms embargo on Somalia, airspace of Somaliland and carrying military equipment to our enemy and yet lying about it.
It is about time Somalilanders talk less and carry a BIG stick. Being nice will only make our enemies be bolder.
This well planned Saracens arms deal scandal by the Somalia TFG and the Authorities of the Mugud Puntland district of Somalia which allegedly was destined to train Puntland military with many
connected links and said funded by the UAE, having been intercepted and dealt with by the Somaliland Authorities is but one of many SL national security concerns. Let's wait tosee what the final explanation
of Somalia will look like in this mafia styled secret deals.
Cheers.
In other words Looted. its BAD for Somaliland image simply you cannot keep other people's cargo that land in you are Airport. You could return to the origin.
warsame am not on anyside but for real think before you write.
if i wanted to kill you and you found the gun that i was going to use to kill in your own house would you give that gun back to me?
Asalamu Aliakum Brothers and Sisters
If Somaliland wants to be recognized they should act like a country in these situations and fine an appropriate amount of $10,000-$50,000 not $500!!!
The perpetrators were not Somali but foreigners that committed a international crime by taking weapons into Somalia which has an arms Embargo on it.
I'm not saying that we be greedy or opportunistic just act accordingly and in the fashion of any other country.
The Government of Somaliland should appropriate a proper fine so they can send a strong deterrent to foreign arm trafficers not to operate in our region. In addition they're weapons should not be given to them but disposed of, using them would only create more animosity, and the Somaliland Government are not thugs.
The funds gathered from fines collected could be used to improve our air security systems, air traffic controllers, technological security equipment, devices, trained personel etc.
–My uncle know a somali man who had to pay $20,000 to Ethiopia for trafficing goods.
I am sorry if I offended anyone but It the truth, tough love.
**If you know any Somaliland politician or an older father, unlce etc. let them know that this is wrong and needs to be changed**
LONG LIVE SOMALILAND
The accurate story can be found on the following link:
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2010/12/…
Somaliland should go after the mafia that was behind the weapon smuggling operation., let the hungry Russians go home, and put the Somali origin gangs behind bars. (Faroole & sharmake)
Friend, Sharmaarke was fired long, long ago!
I think somaliland should have gone for hefty fines to send out strong message and hand over the weapons to the UN and not confiscate anything because in the eyes of the world somaliland is on arms embargo just like somalia.it is a missed opportunity to show the world that the government of somland is cooperating with the world not to break international law.
I think the fine is too small compared to the crime; £1000,000 would have been fair. They want away lightly and the Somali Government who is responsible of this action would be happy with the outcome. Surely they will repeat the same.
The accurate story can be found on the following link:
http://www.capetimes.co.za/held-at-gunpoint-in-so…
Held at gunpoint in Somalia (CAPE TIMES)
This plane and its crew are very lucky to find themselves in in a country where there is law (Somaliland). The crews have been treated well and given justice according to the law of the land. (Take above "held at gunpoint" news with lots of salt, even in US when you are arrested, you are arrested at gunpoint.
Their sentence was based on the current Somaliland law. That is why the fine was $500.