MOGADISHU (Halbeeg News) – Somalia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Abukar Osman told the Security Council that the vote to extend the three decades long arms embargo will undermine the ongoing campaigns against Al-Shabaab.
The Council voted Thursday to maintain an arms embargo on Somalia. 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 Somali government, backed by the African Union, to lift the arms embargo.
Osman said Somalia had used many weapons since the start of the operation and needed more international support to win the war against al-Shabaab group.
He warned that the arms embargo, which is the longest UN sanctions regime, is hindering efforts to rebuild the country’s security forces to counter al-Shabab.
The army used “a major portion” of its armaments during engagements with al-Shabab in the last four months, Osman said, 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”.
Osman said victims of 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 UNSC.
Discussion about this post