Egypt welcomes lifting of arms embargo imposed on Somalia

CAIRO, Egypt - Egypt has welcomed the decision by the United Nations Security Council to lift the decades-long arms embargo imposed on Somalia, noting that the move will significantly boost security within the country after decades of unrest.

Last Friday, the Security Council under Resolution 2714, revoked the arms embargo on Somalia that has been in place since 1992 after the ouster of military ruler Siad Barre. Since then, the country has been under UN restrictions on the purchase of arms.

In a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cairo acknowledged the decision, noting that Somalia has come of age to determine her security arrangements. The country is currently battling Al-Shabaab militants who control rural central and southern Somalia.

Cairo, the ministry said, will support the federal government of Somalia's quest to establish a formidable force that can effectively face the Al-Shabaab militants. The decision, it adds, will allow the country to purchase modern military hardware essential in the Al-Shabaab war.

This support is anticipated to have a beneficial influence on the security and stability of the Horn of Africa region, the ministry adds. Somalia has been battling violent extremism for the last two decades, forcing the African Union to dispatch peacekeepers.

By the end of December 2024, most peacekeepers are expected to leave the country as they hand over security responsibilities to local troops. The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS] started the gradual withdrawal of soldiers in June 2022.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared total war against Al-Shabaab militants in 2022 and since then, sustained campaigns have left over 3,000 militants dead. The government of Somalia has also called for military assistance to help in dislodging Al-Shabaab.

GAROWE ONLINE