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Puntland calls for reinstatement of UN arms embargo on Somalia


Monday December 16, 2024


FILE - Puntland's Minister of Interior, Abdi Farah Said (Juha), addressing a press conference. Juha has recently called for the reinstatement of the UN arms embargo on Somalia, citing security concerns and misuse of weapons.

GAROWE, Somalia — Puntland’s Minister of Interior, Abdi Farah Said (Juha), has called for the reinstatement of the United Nations arms embargo on Somalia, warning that the removal of restrictions has exacerbated security risks and political instability in the country.

Speaking in Garowe, the minister accused the Federal Government of Somalia of redirecting weapons meant for combating Al-Shabaab to settle internal political scores. His remarks come as Somalia grapples with an ongoing insurgency by Al-Shabaab militants and increasing divisions among federal member states.

“The weapons intended to secure Somalia are being misused to fuel political conflicts and destabilize federal member states,” Juha said. “This is a reckless and dangerous misuse of military resources.”

Juha pointed to the recent deployment of federal forces to Raaskambooni in Jubbaland, describing it as a deliberate move to undermine the semi-autonomous regional government. Jubbaland, a key ally in Somalia’s fragile federal system, has long accused Mogadishu of overreach and power grabs.

“This deployment is an attack on the federal system and destabilizes the trust needed for national unity,” Juha said, adding that such actions erode public confidence in Mogadishu’s leadership.

The minister also criticized the Federal Government’s use of drones, which were procured to strengthen Somalia’s counterterrorism capabilities. He claimed the lack of clear regulations governing drone operations poses significant risks, both to civilians and to the country’s fragile security framework.

“There are no safeguards in place to ensure these drones are used appropriately,” Juha said. “This negligence threatens to escalate tensions further.”

The UN Security Council lifted the arms embargo on Somalia in December 2023, ending more than 30 years of restrictions. The decision was made to allow the Federal Government to strengthen its military capabilities against Al-Shabaab and to prepare for the withdrawal of African Union peacekeepers, scheduled for December 2024.

The call for reinstating the embargo comes amid a surge in arms smuggling across Somalia. In July, Somali security forces intercepted a shipment of illegal weapons in Galmudug, including heavy arms like machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades. The convoy, allegedly originating from Ethiopia, was ambushed by local militias, leaving several dead and the weapons looted.

Juha made a similar call in mid-July following the clash between clan militia and security forces.

International observers have expressed concerns about the proliferation of arms in Somalia. The UN resolution lifting the embargo emphasized the need for accountability and proper weapons management.

The Somali Cabinet has attempted to address these issues by enacting stringent arms control measures, including a ban on illegal arms trade and mandatory registration for light weapons. However, critics argue that these policies have been inconsistently enforced, allowing weapons to fall into the wrong hands.



 





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