Somalia diverting arms to warlords, al Shabab militants: UN reportFebruary 15, 2014 - 10:18 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A UN report has warned that "systematic abuses" by Somalia's government have allowed weapons to be diverted to warlords and al Shabab militants, according to BBC News. The report for the UN's sanctions committee calls for the restoration of an arms embargo on Somalia that was relaxed last year. It said a key advisor to Somalia's president has been involved in planning weapons deliveries to militants. Somalia's mission to the UN has questioned the report's validity. The confidential 14-page report was compiled by the UN's Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group, a panel of independent experts supervising compliance with the sanctions regime. It said the group had "identified a number of issues and concerns over current management of weapons and ammunition stockpiles" by Somalia's government. These, it said, "point to high-level and systematic abuses in weapons and ammunition management and distribution". The Security Council imposed the embargo on Somalia in 1992 as the country descended into two decades of unrest. As stability returned to Somalia in 2012, it was hoped that last year's easing of sanctions on light weapons such as assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades would enable an internationally-backed government to better arm its security forces against al-Shabab. Al-Qaeda-aligned Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for a car bomb attack on Thursday, Feb 13 near the international airport in the Somali capital, Mogadishu. At least six people were killed. The new report outlines the difficulties faced by the monitors in gaining access to weapons stockpiles in Somalia and obtaining information about its growing arsenal. It said shipments of weapons from Uganda and Djibouti could not be accounted for. Many weapons were being diverted away from security forces and into the hands of militias loyal to powerful clans or for sale in private arms markets in Mogadishu, it added. Within these clans, one key adviser to the president has been involved in planning weapons deliveries to al-Shabab, the report said. It recommend the restoration of the full arms embargo, or at least stricter rules. The Somali mission to the UN said the report contained "very serious allegations" which will "cause damage to the legitimacy of the government." Related links: Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | U.S., Armenia sign customs deal According to Armenian customs data, U.S.-Armenian trade reached $670 million last year. Glendale mayor to visit Yerevan Asatryan last visited Armenia in December 2022-January 2023 as she helped establish a partnership between Armenia’s Opera House and Los Angeles Opera. Ucom’s fixed network launches in Nor Hachn City residents will be able to use fixed-line Internet, mobile communications and television in one package at more affordable prices. Ambassador summoned to Russia returns to Armenia Sergei Kopyrkin has returned to Yerevan more than two weeks after being recalled to Moscow for consultations. |