UN Security Council lifts arms embargo on Somalia government
(VOVWORLD) - The United Nations Security Council unanimously voted on Friday to remove the final restrictions on weapons deliveries to Somalia’s government and its security forces, more than 30 years after an arms embargo was first imposed on the country.
 Somali soldiers on patrol in Sanguuni, 450km south of capital city Mogadishu (Photo: AFP/VNA) |
The 15-member body adopted two British-drafted resolutions: one to remove the full arms embargo on Somalia and another to reimpose an arms embargo on al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militants.
The lifting of the arms embargo enables Somalia to confront security threats, said Somalia’s UN Ambassador Abukar Dahir Osman.
It also allows the East African country to bolster the capacity of the Somali security forces by accessing lethal arms and equipment to adequately safeguard its citizens and our nation, he added.