Somalia pushes for lifting of arms embargo amid anti-terror war

The Somali government continues to push for the lifting of arms embargo on the country amid an ongoing offensive against Al-Shabaab terrorists.

During a meeting with members of the international community on Wednesday, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud reiterated Somalia’s need for international support in the fight against terrorism, in particular the need for lifting of the arms embargo on the Horn of African country.

In attendance were the ambassadors of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Italy, as well as representatives from the United Nations, the European Union, and the African Union.

Mohamud cited military gains made against Al-Shabaab terror group through the combined efforts of the Somali National Army (SNA) and allied local clan militias that has liberated vast territories in the regions of Hiran, Galgadud, and Middle Shabelle.

For his part, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre emphasised the government’s commitment to lifting the arms embargo within a year.

Barre’s remarks came during his meeting on Wednesday with officials from the country’s ministries of defence and security, the director of the country’s spy agency Mahad Salad, army chief General Odowaa Yusuf Raage, and Somali Police Force Commander General Abdi Hassan Mohamed Hijar among others.

The PM proposed the establishment of a two-tier committee consisting of an implementation committee and a technical committee to scale up the lifting of arms embargo.

Since his election, Mohamud’s administration has made several calls to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to lift the arms embargo it placed on the country since 1992.

In November, much to the disappointment of the Somali government, the UNSC voted to maintain the arms embargo.

However, the arms embargo was modified to include allowing Somalia to import portable surface-to-air missiles, higher-calibre mortars, and anti-tank guided weapons among others – as long as there is no objection from the UNSC committee monitoring sanctions within five working days of being notified by the government.

The modification reflects the government’s progress in improving its management of weapons and ammunition.

Somalia’s latest push for the lifting of the arms embargo comes amid massive military gains made by the government against the terror group after it has pushed 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.