UN Extends Arms Embargo On Somalia

The United Nations Security Council has extended the arms embargo on Somalia and a ban on trade in Somali charcoal.

In a resolution issued on Wednesday, United Nations has decided to continue both the arms embargo on Somalia and the ban on the import and export of Somali charcoal until Nov. 15, 2019.

The council expressed concern that the charcoal trade is providing “significant funding for Al-Shabab which struggles to overthrow the Somali government.

In the resolution, the council condemned Al-Shabab’s “increased revenue from natural resources including the taxing of the illicit sugar trade, agricultural production and livestock” and its involvement in the illicit charcoal trade.

Somalia’s U.N. Ambassador Abukar Dahir Osman said Somali government will keep on working and cooperating with all the countries in the Horn of Africa to accelerate efforts to lift sanctions on his country.

He urged the Security Council to establish “clearly defined benchmarks” for ending sanctions.

The UN imposed the ban on weapons trade with Somalia in 1992 following the intensification of the country’s civil war and the resulting anarchy following the collapse of the central government in 1991.