Somalia calls for lifting of 20-year-old UN arms embargo

Veiled Somali women brandish their weapons in Mogadishu. Despite a UN arms embargo on Somalia,
the nation is awash with weaponry from all over the world. Photo | AFP |

Africa Review
Wednesday, January 11, 2012

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The United Nations' 20-year-old arms embargo on Somalia is severely hampering the fight against terror groups in the country, a top minister has said.

Somalia's minister for Defence Hussein Arab Issa urged the international community to lift the embargo arguing that it has had a negative effect on the government's campaign against radical militant groups such as Al-Shabaab.

The UN imposed the ban on weapons trade with Somalia in 1992 following intensification of the country's civil war and the resulting anarchy following the collapse of the central government in 1991.

But with the ongoing Al-Shabaab insurgency, the transitional government feels hamstrung by a lack of equipment for its forces.

"Success against the terror groups will be positively influenced by adequately armed forces," Mr Issa told independent Mogadishu broadcaster Kulmiye Radio in an interview this week. The minister said that the alliance of pro-government forces and African Union peacekeepers had led to the expulsion of Al-Shabaab militants from the capital Mogadishu.

"We equally want [AU Mission in Somalia] Amisom peacekeepers fully empowered to deliver their services effectively," said Mr Issa. "The next plan is to sustain the achievement of the armed forces by not allowing Al-Shabaab fighters to return to the city."

Reshuffled army

Mr Issa added that his ministry had extensively re-organised the army but suggested that most of the armed personnel be trained inside Somalia.

Lack of facilities has forced the bulk of army training to be held outside the country in friendly neighbouring countries mainly Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti and Sudan.

"Local training of the armed personnel and the lifting of the UN arms embargo in order to empower the TFG forces are a perfect combination that can ensure the defeat of the Al-Qaeda-inspired Al-Shabaab militants,” said the minister in response to an inquiry from state-run broadcaster Radiyo Muqdisho.

Last week the minister said that the transitional government had a solid plan to finally overrun Al-Shabaab during a visit with prime minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali to Beledweyne, a key town captured from the militants on January 5 with the help of Ethiopian forces.

Mr Issa said that public support for the campaign against Al-Shabaab militants was critical. "The public must realise the human cost paid by the glorious pro-government soldiers and the troops from the friendly countries while liberating territories from the fanatical Islamists," he said.

"We need everybody’s cooperation in order to form an administration that will respond to public needs."

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