The UN Security Council has extended sanctions on Al-Shabaab, emphasizing restrictions on illegal arms and charcoal trades. The sanctions will last until December 2025, with a renewed mandate for the Experts Panel until January 2026. The resolution reflects an international commitment to prevent Al-Shabaab from acquiring weapons while supporting Somalia’s security agencies. Concerns were raised about arms flow from Yemen, and UN members called for continuous evaluation of the sanctions regime’s effectiveness.
The United Nations Security Council has extended sanctions on Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda-affiliated militant group in Somalia, with an emphasis on combating illegal arms imports and the illegal charcoal trade. These sanctions will remain in effect until December 2025, and the mandate for the Panel of Experts supporting the sanctions regime has been renewed until January 2026. The resolution, which received unanimous approval, underscores the necessity for all nations to prevent Al-Shabaab from receiving weapons and ammunition.
The Security Council’s measures do not hinder the Somali federal government, whose arms embargo was lifted recently, nor do they affect the National Intelligence and Security Agency or the Somali National Police Force. The representative from Guyana, speaking on behalf of multiple nations, emphasized the importance of these sanctions as part of the efforts to combat Al-Shabaab while calling for an assessment of the effectiveness of the sanctions regime in supporting government initiatives.
The United Kingdom’s representative noted that the sanctions aim to degrade Al-Shabaab’s operations, disrupt its financial activities, and foster international cooperation while enhancing Somalia’s capabilities. Concern was raised regarding the flow of weapons from Yemen to Somalia, linking Al-Shabaab’s activities to the wider destabilizing influences of the Houthis, with calls for close coordination between relevant sanctions committees.
The United States highlighted worries about the connections between Al-Shabaab and the Houthis and advocated for dialogue to address these issues constructively. Moreover, they called for additional designations concerning Al-Shabaab operatives. However, the Russian representative countered that the situation in Yemen should be addressed independently of these sanctions.
Pakistan’s delegate pointed to the need to disrupt Al-Shabaab’s capacity for radicalization, recruitment, and financial operations through extortion and piracy. Continued humanitarian support and investment in Somalia’s economic development are essential to addressing the underlying causes of terrorism, underscoring the need for unified regional and international efforts to combat terrorism effectively.
In summary, the UN Security Council has unanimously extended sanctions against Al-Shabaab, focusing on curbing arms imports and charcoal exports, and has renewed the Panel of Experts’ mandate. It is crucial that these sanctions are evaluated periodically to assess their effectiveness in supporting Somalia’s governmental efforts against terrorism. The ongoing conflict necessitates international cooperation to disrupt Al-Shabaab’s operations and address the humanitarian situation in Somalia.
Original Source: www.garoweonline.com
