‘Somalia of 2023 not Somalia of 1992’,: Mohamud says as he pushes for lifting of Arms Embargo

The President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has called on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to lift the arms embargo on his country that has hindered the fight against terrorism.

In his speech at the Security Council on Thursday, Mohamud said his government had adopted measures to counter the illicit flow of arms including establishing a legislation to control the possession, manufacture, storage and use of firearms.

“Let me state clearly that Somalia of 2023 is not Somalia of 1992,” he told the UNSC.

“I implore you distinguished delegates to support our call for the complete lifting of the arms embargo in Somalia”, Mohamud added, noting that this will empower Somalia assert its sovereignty as well as “effectively combat terrorism and build a peaceful and prosperous future” for the nation.

The Somali leader’s call for the lifting of arms embargo comes at a crucial moment as the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) begins a scale down of its troops in Somalia.

Also addressing the UNSC was Mohamed El-Amine Souef, chief of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).

He endorsed the calls to lift the embargo on Somali if the Somali Security Forces (SSF) are to takeover the security of the country.

“We must support SSF leadership, hold liberated areas and take over FOBs [forward operating bases],” he said. “These forces require resources to fight Al-Shabab and stabilise newly liberated areas. This calls for the lifting of the arms embargo on Somalia.”

The call comes amid massive military gains made by the government against the terror group after pushing it out of swathes of territories in south and central Somalia.

The government sees the lifting of the arms embargo as key in consolidating these gains and liberating other territories still under Al-Shabaab rule.

Independent security analyst Samira Gaid told VOA the removal of the arms embargo is critical for Somalia’s fight against Al-Shabab militants.

“The country is in war against a terror group. It needs all the capacities that it can achieve to take on this group and fight this group and eliminate it from Somali territory,” she said. “So, the prevailing situation, really security situation, argues for a lifting of this arms embargo.”