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Carlson, Khristopher. 2022 ‘Somalia.’ Firearms and Ammunition Trafficking in Eastern Africa; 1, pp. 9-11. Vienna: United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC). 1 June

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Over the past decade, illicit firearms have consistently flowed into the Puntland State of Somalia, with multiple weapon types and ammunition reportedly trafficked across the Gulf of Aden from Yemen. Illicit firearms trafficked through Puntland's port of Bossaso arm al-Shabaab, Da'esh in Somalia, and other armed groups.

Interdictions of maritime shipments reveal that large quantities of various types are being trafficked to Somalia, with weapon types including sniper and AK-pattern assault rifles, many of which bear markings consistent with Iranian-manufactured types. Other seized weapons include Type 73 MPMGs (manufactured in North Korea and used in ran), PK machine guns, spare machine-gun barrels, mortar tubes, anti-tank guided missiles, and RPG launchers, among several ammunition types of a variety of calibers. It is estimated that an average of four illicit shipments of weapons are received into Puntland each month.

(…) In several instances, leaked government weapons have been reported to be traded in local black markets and purchased by al-Shabaab fighters and civilians.

(…) Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and Al-Shabaab have exchanged operatives in the past. While AQAP draws from al-Shabaab's intelligence organization, al-Shabaab stands to benefit from AQAP's experience in deploying a wider variety of weapon types, which may potentially compel the Somali group to broaden its weapons inventories and tactics. Organized criminal groups operating throughout the broader Horn region include several crossborder networks.

ID: Q16100

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