UN Security Council Extends Arms Embargo lift on Somalia to eight months

Published: March 6, 2014

UN Security Council Extends Arms Embargo on Somalia to eight monthsThe United Nations Security Council has agreed to extend the partial arms embargo lift on Somalia for another eight months.

Members of the Council met Wednesday to discuss on the arms embargo, which was first lifted partially last year and was due to expire this month.

The members unanimously voted for an extension till 25 October of this year, but urged the Somali government to meet the strict conditions of the Monitoring group responsible for reporting on imports of arms into Somalia.

“All Member States are required to take the necessary measures to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer of weapons and military equipment to designated individuals and entities, which include Al-Shabaab,” was stated in a statement from the members.

Last month, a confidential report from the Monitoring group accused the federal Government for diverting arms to the Militant group al-Shabab, clan elders and warlords. But the Somali leaders denied the allegations.

“Condemning flows of weapons and ammunition supplies to and through Somalia in violation of the arms embargo on Somalia, as well as the destabilizing accumulation and misuse of such weapons, as a serious threat to peace and stability in the region.”

The partial arms embargo lift means the government will be able to buy light weapons such as automatic assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, to strengthen its fight against al-Qaeda-linked militant group.

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