Calls Mount for UN to Reinstate Arms Embargo on Somalia

[Deeq A.]

Calls to the United Nations Security Council to reinstate an arms embargo on Somalia are increasing.

Mogadishu (PP Commentary) — For six days now, the discourse across television, radio, and social media has centred on the arms embargo, with calls to the United Nations Security Council to reinstate it in Somalia. The flow of illegal weapons has been rising, sparking widespread concern. Reports have surfaced of trucks carrying legal weapons ending up in civilian hands in Abudwaq, Galmudug. Yet, despite this alarming development, no one has been held accountable for the influx of illegal arms into the country.

Even more troubling is the role of the Somali government, which is accused of enabling weapons to fall into the hands of clan militias. These militias, embroiled in frequent clashes, leave a trail of death and injury, often involving innocent civilians. Trust in the government’s ability to manage this crisis is virtually non-existent.

The situation has deteriorated further with reports of arms making their way to Jubaland and even into Kenya following the surrender of Somali forces. Security experts have long argued that the Somali government lacks the capacity to control the weapons in its possession. This only strengthens the call for the United Nations to reimpose the embargo. The open arms markets in Mogadishu, the rising demand for weapons among civilians and clan militias and the persistent threat posed by Al-Shabaab serve as stark evidence of the gravity of the problem.

Moreover, the Federal Government of Somalia stands accused of using the country’s armed forces for political purposes, such as deploying drones against Jubaland’s local forces—a practice widely deemed unacceptable. Concerns are growing that lifting the embargo would empower the Somali government to deploy heavy weaponry against regional administrations that resist its authority.

The international community must take these warnings seriously, for the consequences of inaction could be dire. The calls for decisive intervention are not just urgent—they are a matter of ensuring stability and preventing further conflict in Somalia.

© Puntland Post, 2024

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