BEIJING, March 2 (Xinhuanet) -- The UN Security Council is expected to discuss a draft proposal that may see a partial lifting of the Somalia arms embargo. The council is also likely to vote on a resolution to extend the African Union’s mission in Somalia before the force’s mandate expires on March 7th.
A new proposal to lift the longstanding Somalia’s arms embargo is set to be presented before the UN Security Council. The proposal seeks to lift the embargo for a year but leaves in place restrictions on heavy weapons as surface to air missiles. A deeply divided UN Security Council considers concerns of arms proliferation and smuggling of arms that could threaten regional security should a complete lifting of the arms embargo is approved.
Awale Kulane, Somali diplomat, said, "It is not a sense of buying more arms to encourage conflict but to reduce conflict. lifting embargo would only empower the Somali security forces to do their job."
The United States is one of the nations that has been supporting Somalia’s request for approval of arms imports. UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has as well earlier urged in a report to the Security Council a consideration for the lifting of the embargo to help rebuild the war torn country’s security forces and consolidate the gains made against the Alqaida backed Alshabab militants.
This proposal comes as the international community explores how long it might take before the Somali forces can provide security on their own, allowing the departure of more than 1700 Amisom units who have been in Somalia since 2007.
Abdihakim Fiqi, Somali Defense Minister, said, "It now the right time to lift the arms embargo to allow us train and arm our security forces. We are determined to build a force that is highly professional. The embargo is preventing us from fully securing our country from the Alqaida of Somalia."
The African union mission in Somalia’s mandate now comes to an end in a week’s time. The Security Council had earlier extended the mission’s mandate by only four months.
(Source: CNTV.cn)
