The Security Council completely lifts the arms embargo on Somalia

The Security Council completely lifts the arms embargo on Somalia

 The UN Security Council decided on Friday to lift the arms embargo that had been in place on Somalia since 1992. The 15-member council adopted two British-drafted resolutions: one to lift the complete arms embargo on Somalia and the other to reimpose an arms embargo on Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab fighters.

The resolution to lift the arms embargo stated that “for the avoidance of doubt, there is no arms embargo on the Government of the Federal Republic of Somalia.” The resolution also expressed concern about the number of secure ammunition storage facilities in Somalia, encouraged the construction, renovation and use of secure ammunition depots throughout Somalia, and urged Other countries to help.

Somalia's ambassador to the United Nations, Abubakar Tahir Osman, said, "Lifting the arms embargo enables us to confront security threats." “It also allows us to strengthen the capacity of the Somali security forces with access to lethal weapons and equipment to adequately protect our citizens and nation.”

The Somali governments were demanding that the arms embargo be lifted, and the UN Security Council partially lifted the embargo in 2013 until it was completely lifted on the first of this month.