A senior Somali Federal government official has denied reports from the U.N monitoring group alleging the…
A senior Somali Federal government official has denied reports from the U.N monitoring group alleging the government to have diverted arms to a militant group and clans.
The experts revealed that weapons shipments to the government regularly fall into the hands of the Islamist militant group al-Shabab and some clans.
Some of the weapons are also sold in open markets in the capital, the report alleged, adding that they obtained evidences such as documentaries.
Somali army Chief Dahir Adan Elmi denied the allegations saying that the weapons ‘’are in safe hands’’.
‘’ We are really surprised with this accusations. We have never sold out weapons nor misused them.’’
‘’ A team from the U.N monitoring visited here (Mogadishu) and we took them to the stockpiles for their own inspection. And they were satisfied,’’ said the army Chief in an interview with the VOA Somali service.
Last year, the UN Security Council voted to ease sanctions partially on arms embargo against Somalia which was existing since the overthrow of the Military government led by Siad Barre. The sanction was adopted in 1992 in reaction to the ongoing conflict and deteriorating humanitarian situation by that time.
The experts called for another full arms embargo sanction when the one year partial lift expires next month or an alternative that the government must be subjected to enhanced notification and reporting requirements for arms deliveries.
Ayub Abdirahman
Horseed Media
