The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is set to vote Next week to lift the remaining restrictions on weapons deliveries to Somalia’s government and its security forces, marking a significant development more than 30 years after the initiation of an arms embargo in 1992.
This embargo was initially imposed to stem the flow of weapons to conflicting warlords who, following the overthrow of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre, plunged Somalia into a devastating civil war.
Scheduled for adoption on Friday are two resolutions, both drafted by the United Kingdom. One resolution aims to completely lift the arms embargo on Somalia, while the other seeks to reinstate an arms embargo specifically targeting the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group.
The draft resolutions explicitly state that there will be no arms embargo on the Government of the Federal Republic of Somalia, providing clarity on this matter.
Additionally, they express concerns about the inadequate number of secure ammunition storage facilities in Somalia and encourage the construction, renovation, and utilization of such depots across the country. The resolutions urge other nations to contribute to this effort.
Al-Shabab has been engaged in a ruthless insurgency against the Somali government since 2006, striving to establish its own rule based on a stringent interpretation of Islamic Sharia law.
Somalia’s government has consistently sought the removal of the arms embargo to enhance its forces’ capabilities in confronting the militants.
The UNSC had commenced the gradual lifting of measures on Somalia’s security forces in 2013.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud emphasized last week that Somalia has a one-year timeframe to expel al-Shabab, especially with the impending deadline in December for the remaining African Union peacekeepers to withdraw.
the UNSC’s upcoming vote signifies a pivotal moment in Somalia’s post-civil war trajectory, as the government seeks to address security challenges and combat the insurgency while emphasizing international collaboration and support for responsible arms management.
