Freed Ukraine ship docks in Kenya

Recipient of military cargo still unclear, days after it was released by Somali pirates.

Kenya - Ukraine - MV Faina
After the MV Faina was seized, Kenya claimed the weaponry was for its armed forces [AFP]

“The cargo that the Faina is carrying was purchased from the Ukrainian government by the Kenyan government,” David Musila, Kenya’s deputy defence minister, said.

Mykola Malomuzh, head of Ukraine’s foreign intelligence service, also said that the cargo was being shipped in legal fashion to Kenya for the country’s armed forces.

“We hereby reject all accusations suggesting that the cargo is being shipped to other countries,” he said.

Controversial cargo

Al Jazeera’s Mohammed Adow, reporting from Nairobi, said there would be a receiving ceremony where Ukrainian officials “will hand over the weapons directly to the Kenyan government which says they belong to it”.

“This is part of an effort by the Kenyan government to satisfy those who are saying that these weapons are for the southern Sudanese authorities,” he said.

“But reports that the weapons could be headed for southern Sudan may not be far-fetched because southern Sudan uses the port of Mombasa for importing most of its need from the outside world.”

The Faina was released last week after a ransom of $3.2 million was paid to the Somali hijackers, regional maritime sources and members of the gang said. 

The vessel’s capture was one of the longest and most prominent hijackings since Somali piracy surged in 2007.

The Faina‘s captain died, reportedly of natural causes, two days after it was seized.

Source: Al Jazeera, News Agencies