French Navy Seizes Second Large Cache of Weapons off the Coast of Somalia This Month

On March 20, 2016, the French navy seized a ship in the north of the Indian Ocean carrying several hundred AK 47 assault rifles, machines guns, and anti-tank weapons. A French helicopter spotted the vessel that was unregistered, and it was soon intercepted by the FS Providence.

After the French seized the vessel, the crew of 10 were brought in for questioning. There has been no mention of any information given by the crew, but they have since been released.

The French Navy has yet to reveal any further information about the origin or final destination of the ship, but the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), the group of nations policing the Indian Ocean, stated the arms were meant for Somalia.

While the CMF reported the ship was destined for Somalia, a U.S. assessment believes the arms were in fact destined for Yemen, originating in Iran. The U.S. came to a similar conclusion after the Australians seized a arms cache from another ship earlier in the month. The Iranians have been accused of arming the Houthi rebels, which gives this assessment credence.

The CMF is made up of 31 nations that patrol vital shipping lanes from terrorism and piracy. Some of the notable nations involved are: the U.S., Australia, Canada, France, and the UK. The CMF’s mission in the Indian Ocean is the Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, which includes the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean and Gulf of Oman.

Reuters reported in 2013 that the Somali terrorist organization Al Shabaab had been receiving weapon shipments from Yemen and Iran. The group receives weapons into the Puntland, the autonomous region of Northern Somalia, and further moves them south to their strongholds.

Al Shabaab is Al Qaeda’s Somalia branch, and the group has received support in the past from AQ’s Yemen branch, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). Yemen and Somalia are close in proximity, so it is possible to send weapons or personnel through shipping vessels.

Iran does not have any immediate ties to Al Shabaab or any terrorist organization in Somalia could have motivation to arm Al Shabaab. Turkey, who has been supporting Syrian opposition forces against Iran’s ally Syria, just made a deal with the Somali government to increase its investment in the country. In order to counter Turkish interference in Syria, Iran may be willing to aid Al Shabaab in disrupting rebuilding efforts. That said the Turkish-Iranian relationship is highly complex with Iran has previously worked with Turkey on gold sales in order to cheat sanctions.

While it is a possibility Iran could be aiding Al Shabaab, they do not have enough interest in Somalia to actively aid the terrorist organization opposed to the Houthis in Yemen. The Houthis have been fighting the Yemeni government and a Saudi-led coalition of Gulf States since last March. The two groups were able to recently agree on a ceasefire that will take place on April 10. However, this could just be a time for the Houthi rebels to rearm. Iran has reportedly been aiding the rebels, although they deny any of these claims. Iran would surely like to see Saudi influence decrease in Yemen, and backing the Houthis will aid this mission.

While it is unlikely the ship originated in Iran, it is still important that the shipment of arms was stopped. With the CMF forces continually releasing those who pilot the vessels filled with arms, they are likely to continue their trade.