Somalia will have access to lethal weapons in order to deal with security concerns.
The United Nations Security Council eased Somalia’s long-standing arms embargo, a major step forward in the country’s efforts to stabilize and reinforce its security forces.
The embargo, established in 1992 in response to the country’s disastrous civil war, severely limited Somalia’s capacity to get weaponry and ammunition to tackle security challenges, particularly the insurgent group al-Shabaab.
The UN Security Council ultimately decided to lift the embargo after years of international pressure and Somalia’s incremental progress toward security. On December 1, 14 members voted in favor, with only one abstaining.
The removal of the embargo is likely to provide Somalia’s government with access to lethal weapons, allowing it to better equip its military forces and boost their effectiveness in dealing with security concerns such as the al-Shabaab insurgency.
Now that the arms embargo has been lifted, Somalia can focus on rebuilding its security forces, bolstering its national defense, and laying the groundwork for a more peaceful and secure future.