UN probes smuggling of weapons and charcoal in Somalia

NAIROBI, Kenya - The United Nations is now probing illegal firearms smuggling and charcoal in Somalia, activities which are believed to be financing Al-Shabaab militants in the Horn of Africa nation, which has been battling with insecurity for the last three decades.

A committee selected by the UN under Japanese Permanent Representative Ishikane Kimihiro has already adopted recommendations for 2022 on the illegal charcoal trade which is said to be benefiting Al-Shabaab militants, a group that is fighting to topple the fragile UN-backed federal government of Somalia.

On Monday, Kimihiro told the Security Council that the UN had relaxed the arms embargo slapped on Somalia through resolution 2662 of 2022 in order to support the security institutions of the country. The resolution recommended that Somalia reduces existing charcoal stockpiles.

The envoy said his committee has already held two meetings that focused on the illegal smuggling of weapons from Yemen. The committee has now shifted focus to investigations on Al-Shabaab's finances, potential arms embargo violations, and the charcoal ban.

The committee has already shared a preliminary report on the illegal smuggling of weapons and charcoal to various stakeholders, key among them the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia [UNSOM], the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS], and European Union.

During the briefing, Abukar Dahir Osman, the Permanent Representative of Somalia to the UN, called for the complete lifting of the arms embargo imposed on his government. He warned against the growing disconnect between the sanctions regime and the evolving situation on the ground, especially in the fight against Al-Shabaab.

The ambassador said sanctions should target those who threaten peace and stability and most correspond to the government's general strategy in degrading Al-Shabaab militants. Somalia is currently battling with Al-Shabaab militants on all fronts, forcing the US to donate 61 tonnes of weapons and ammunition on Tuesday.

Locals and international actors are linked to Al-Shabaab's smuggling of weapons from war-torn Yemen, with the group said to be spending close to $24 million of its monthly budget for the same purpose. The United States has pledged to help the country effectively block Al-Shabaab's sources of revenue.

GAROWE ONLINE