According to flight data, satellite imagery, and multiple local sources cited by MEE, cargo planes and containers marked “hazardous” have regularly arrived in Bosaso over the past two years. These shipments, guarded under tight security, are reportedly transferred to other aircraft heading toward RSF-controlled areas in Sudan.
Witnesses and Puntland security officers said the shipments do not remain in Somalia, suggesting Bosaso is being used as a transit hub for weapons and logistics. The UAE, which funds Puntland’s maritime police, has denied previous accusations of backing the RSF.
MEE also reported the presence of Colombian mercenaries and South African security personnel operating from Bosaso, allegedly fighting alongside RSF forces. Injured RSF fighters are said to be treated in a secret medical facility near the airport.
Regional analysts warn that the UAE’s growing military influence in Puntland could draw Somalia into wider regional conflicts and undermine its fragile sovereignty. The Somali federal government has remained largely silent, as Mogadishu lacks direct control over Bosaso’s airport and port facilities.
Experts cited by MEE, including Martin Plaut, suggest that the UAE’s involvement in Sudan’s war is driven by gold interests and geopolitical ambitions across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden region.
The revelations come as the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigates allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sudan, with concerns that Puntland authorities could face scrutiny for complicity.