EYL, Somalia — September 12, 2026 — Protesters burned a Turkish flag in Maraayo, a coastal settlement in Puntland’s Eyl district, on Saturday as residents and regional officials condemned airstrikes that Puntland authorities allege killed civilian fishermen along the Nugaal coast.

Officials from the Nugaal regional administration participated in the demonstration and accused Turkey of carrying out the strikes. They said the victims were innocent fishermen and called for accountability over foreign military operations conducted in Puntland’s coastal areas.

Puntland Repeats Airstrike Allegations

The Maraayo protest followed two reported airstrikes near Garmaal and Jiifle in August.

Puntland Deputy Security Minister Abdirahman Yusuf Dujana previously alleged that four civilians were killed in an airstrike near Garmaal and nine others died in a separate attack near Jiifle. Puntland officials identified those killed as fishermen and said the regional administration had evidence linking Turkey to the operations.

The Garmaal incident occurred after pirates hijacked the Cameroon-flagged cargo vessel M/V LUTUF approximately 3.5 nautical miles off Maraayo on August 17. The ship was carrying weapons, communications equipment and satellite equipment reportedly intended for Turkey’s military training facility in Mogadishu.

The hijackers moved the vessel towards the coast near Garmaal. Turkish-owned vessels later approached the ship, while helicopters and drones were reported operating in the area.

According to an account provided to the Associated Press by a Somali official, a small boat carrying two men approached the hijacked vessel and delivered khat. An airstrike hit the boat after it returned to shore, killing four men and wounding two others.

The circumstances of the strike, including the identity of those responsible and whether the casualties were connected to the hijacking, could not be independently established.

Puntland authorities, relatives and residents described the victims as civilian fishermen. Somali federal officials questioned that account and suggested the men may have been linked to piracy.

Hijacked Vessel Later Freed

The M/V LUTUF was subsequently freed in a joint Somali-Turkish operation.

Somalia’s Defence Ministry said four boats used by the pirates were destroyed and 14 suspected pirates were killed during the operation. The remaining hijackers reportedly abandoned the vessel, allowing Somali and Turkish forces to regain control.

The ministry did not address Puntland’s allegations concerning the reported deaths of fishermen near Garmaal and Jiifle.

Puntland has said it supports lawful operations against piracy and other maritime crimes but opposes the killing of people based only on suspicion. Regional officials have demanded greater transparency and coordination before foreign forces conduct military operations within Puntland’s territory or territorial waters.

Anti-Turkey Protests Spread

Saturday’s demonstration in Maraayo is the latest in a series of protests against Turkey in different parts of Somalia.

Similar demonstrations have taken place in areas controlled by Puntland, Jubaland and South West State. Protesters in Doolow, Garbahaarrey and communities near Baidoa have accused Turkey of supporting or conducting military operations that allegedly caused civilian casualties.

Turkish flags were burned during some of those demonstrations. Several of the accusations remain disputed, and independent investigations have not established Turkish responsibility for all the reported incidents.

The protests mark an unusual public backlash against Turkey, which has maintained close diplomatic, security and economic relations with Somalia for more than a decade.

Parliament Speaker Condemns Flag Burning

Somalia’s House of the People Speaker, Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur Jama, has condemned the burning of Turkish flags, describing the incidents as shameful and influenced by a foreign agenda.

“I was deeply saddened that the Turkish flag was burned in our country,” Jama said in remarks reported by Somali media.

The speaker said Turkey had demonstrated patience with Somalia and continued supporting the country through years of political instability and insecurity. He warned that attacks on Turkey’s national flag could damage relations with a country he described as a close friend and partner.

Jama did not directly address Puntland’s demand for an investigation into the reported civilian deaths.

Turkey operates its largest overseas military training facility in Mogadishu and has trained thousands of Somali soldiers. Ankara also provides military equipment and operational assistance to the Somali federal government in its campaign against Al-Shabaab.

Turkey’s expanding security role has attracted increased scrutiny in federal member states where relations with Mogadishu remain strained. Puntland and Jubaland have repeatedly accused the federal government of conducting security and political operations without adequate consultation with regional administrations.

Puntland officials are expected to continue pressing for an investigation into the Garmaal and Jiifle strikes. The regional administration has not said whether it will present its evidence to Turkey, Somalia’s federal government or an independent international body.

Neither the Turkish government nor Somalia’s federal authorities had issued an immediate response specifically addressing Saturday’s demonstration in Maraayo.

The Maraayo protest risks deepening tensions between Puntland, Somalia’s federal government and Turkey. Ankara is a central security partner for Mogadishu, while Puntland argues that foreign military operations affecting its communities must be coordinated with regional authorities and subjected to public accountability.

Continued demonstrations could also weaken public confidence in foreign-supported security operations. Failure to establish who conducted the strikes and whether civilians were unlawfully targeted may increase anger in coastal communities and complicate cooperation against piracy and armed groups operating in Somalia.