The UN Security Council on Thursday voted to maintain an arms embargo on Somalia over strong objections from its government, saying that the al-Shabaab “terrorist group” still seriously threatens peace and stability in the region, and sanctions are needed to degrade its activities.
The resolution, which also expresses concern at the continued presence of affiliates of the Islamic State group in the Horn of African nation, was approved by a vote of 11-0, with Russia, China, Gabon and Ghana abstaining in support of the call by the Somalian government, backed by the African Union, to lift the arms embargo.
The British-drafted resolution does modify the arms embargo to reflect the government’s progress in improving its management of weapons and ammunition.
This includes allowing Somalia to import portable surface-to-air missiles, higher-caliber mortars, anti-tank guided weapons, combat drones, some aircraft and vessels designed or modified for military use, and combat drones for use by its security forces and police — unless the Security Council committee monitoring sanctions objects within five working days of receiving notification from the government.
British Deputy Ambassador to the UN James Kariuki said the benchmarks identified following a recent technical assessment highlighting Somalia’s progress provide “a clear roadmap … that will help this council make further changes to weapons and ammunition measures in the future.”
“The steps made today will simplify processes for Somalia and its partners, and help speed up the journey,” Kariuki said.
The resolution keeps in place the codified arms embargo, a ban on the sale or transfer of key components of improvised explosive devices that al-Shabaab has used, a ban on the import and export of Somalian charcoal that was a key money-earner, and travel bans and asset freezes on individuals threatening peace and associated with al-Shabaab, including by financing or facilitating its activities.
The Security Council imposed the arms embargo on Somalia in 1992 to cut the flow of weapons to feuding clan-based warlords who toppled then- Somalian president Mohamed Siad Barre the previous year, plunging the country into civil war.
Somalia in 2012 established a functioning transitional government and has been working to rebuild stability in the face of militant attacks and one of the worst droughts the country has experienced that has brought thousands to the brink of famine.
The government of Somalian President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has been engaged in a new offensive against al-Shabaab, including efforts to shut down its financial network.
US Deputy Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood expressed hope that the government would continue to make progress on the benchmarks, allowing for further easing of the arms embargo.
The sanctions regime adopted on Thursday is tailored to support and enable “robust action” by the government to combat al-Shabaab, including by depriving the group of its financial resources, Wood said.
He urged all countries to implement sanctions and deprive al-Shabaab of the ability to access funds and weapons.
Somalian Ambassador to the UN Abukar Osman expressed “deep dissatisfaction” with the extension of the embargo and praised the four countries that abstained for not supporting it.
The embargo, which is the longest UN sanctions regime, is hindering efforts to rebuild the country’s security forces to counter al-Shabaab, Osman said.
The army used “a major portion” of its armaments during engagements with al-Shabaab in the past four months and as a result of the arms embargo renewal, “our hands are tied in the fight against the ruthless enemy at this most critical time,” he said.
Osman said that people killed by Somalia’s “terrorist groups” are asking why lifting the arms embargo is a threat to international peace and security while other countries are being armed to defend their territory and people.
“This unjust and unfair double standard is preventing the government of Somalia to legally obtain military lethal equipment to rebuild its national army,” he told the council.
Kenyan Ambassador to the UN Martin Kimani, whose country has also been targeted by al-Shabaab, supported the resolution, but urged an eventual end to the embargo.
“The partial arms embargo in Somalia cannot exist in perpetuity, as it is counterproductive and adversely affects the capability of the federal government to eradicate the existential threat posed by al-Shabaab,” Kimani said.
A fire caused by a burst gas pipe yesterday spread to several homes and sent a fireball soaring into the sky outside Malaysia’s largest city, injuring more than 100 people. The towering inferno near a gas station in Putra Heights outside Kuala Lumpur was visible for kilometers and lasted for several hours. It happened during a public holiday as Muslims, who are the majority in Malaysia, celebrate the second day of Eid al-Fitr. National oil company Petronas said the fire started at one of its gas pipelines at 8:10am and the affected pipeline was later isolated. Disaster management officials said shutting the
SUSPICION: Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing returned to protests after attending a summit at which he promised to hold ‘free and fair’ elections, which critics derided as a sham The death toll from a major earthquake in Myanmar has risen to more than 3,300, state media said yesterday, as the UN aid chief made a renewed call for the world to help the disaster-struck nation. The quake on Friday last week flattened buildings and destroyed infrastructure across the country, resulting in 3,354 deaths and 4,508 people injured, with 220 others missing, new figures published by state media showed. More than one week after the disaster, many people in the country are still without shelter, either forced to sleep outdoors because their homes were destroyed or wary of further collapses. A UN estimate
The US government has banned US government personnel in China, as well as family members and contractors with security clearances, from any romantic or sexual relationships with Chinese citizens, The Associated Press (AP) has learned. Four people with direct knowledge of the matter told the AP about the policy, which was put into effect by departing US ambassador Nicholas Burns in January shortly before he left China. The people would speak only on condition of anonymity to discuss details of a confidential directive. Although some US agencies already had strict rules on such relationships, a blanket “nonfraternization” policy, as it is known, has
OPTIONS: Asked if one potential avenue to a third term was having J.D. Vance run for the top job and then pass the baton to him, Trump said: ‘That’s one,’ among others US President Donald Trump on Sunday that “I’m not joking” about trying to serve a third term, the clearest indication he is considering ways to breach a constitutional barrier against continuing to lead the country after his second term ends at the beginning of 2029. “There are methods which you could do it,” Trump said in a telephone interview with NBC News from Mar-a-Lago, his private club. He elaborated later to reporters on Air Force One from Florida to Washington that “I have had more people ask me to have a third term, which in a way is a fourth term