Britain imports weapons in Somalia, amid UN embargo

[Deeq A.]

MOGADISHU (Caasimada Online) – UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF) has on Thursday imported a huge stash of weapons and ammunition at airport in Somali capital Mogadishu.

The weapons were reportedly heading to African Union peacekeeping forces in Somalia, amid UN army embargo, security sources said.

The AU soldiers were seen loading heavy and slight weapons to its military trucks at the airport in Mogadishu.

“I have seen a huge stash of weapons and ammunition that were loading to African Union army trucks after British Royal Air Force landed in Mogadishu”, sources said.

It remains unclear if the weapons from Britain has been imported under UN security council’s approval.

The U.N. Security Council has partially lifted its arms embargo on Somalia in 2013 to equip government forces fighting against al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militants.

The relaible sources said the RAF had flown to Balidogle airfield where US especial forces train country’s army troops fighting against Al Shabaab.

Balidogle, an airbase located some 70 miles northwest of Somali capital Mogadishu.

There was no immediate comment from the Western-backed government of Somalia over the weapons importation claims in the capital.

Last year, Somalia’s president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo called on the international community to lift an arms embargo on his country as government soldiers battle to regain territory from the armed group al-Shabab.

Speaking at a Somalia conference held in London and attended by world leaders, Farmajo said government forces would defeat the al-Qaeda-linked group in “a few years” – but troops had to be better equipped.

In Mogadishu, Many guns imported by the Somali government with U.N. approval are being resold by arms dealers on the black market, according to Western diplomats.

The diplomats said poorly-paid soldiers are known to have sold their weapons to buy food to feed their families.

Caasimada Online
Mogadishu News Desk
Caasimada@live.com