Weapons flowing into Somalia

2004-08-18 09:47

United Nations - The Security Council voted unanimously to create a new expert group to continue investigating violations of the United Nations arms embargo against Somalia and make proposals to improve compliance.

The resolution adopted by the council on Tuesday asks Secretary-General Kofi Annan to re-establish the monitoring group within 30 days, for a six-month period, to carry out investigations in Somalia and neighbouring states and to update a list of those who continue to violate the embargo.

It condemned "the continued flow of weapons and ammunition supplies to and through Somalia" and said those on the list, and their active supporters, could face "possible future measures by the council."

Patterns of arms traffic have changed

The United Nations imposed an arms embargo against Somalia in 1992, a year after dictator Mohamed Siad Barre was ousted. The Horn of Africa nation has not had an effective government since then, and the embargo has not been effectively enforced.

The previous monitoring group, which the council authorised in mid-December, was based in Nairobi and focused on transfers of ammunition, single-use weapons and small arms.

A report to the Security Council from that group, circulated this week, said its investigation revealed that arms continue to flow in and out of Somalia but the pattern of the arms traffic appears to have changed.

"While in the past warlords were known to have been the main importers of arms and weapons, arms traders and other businessmen are increasingly playing a more active and bigger role in this traffic," it said.

The Bakaaraha arms markets in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, remain the main source for arms, and weapons are either bought off the shelf or ordered by agents of the warlords and other interested parties, the report said.

The monitoring group said it did not find "concrete proof" that any of Somalia's neighbours were directly involved, or directly approved the transfer and trafficking of arms and weapons into Somalia.

"On the basis of the investigations, however, it is apparent that some individuals and groups in some of these states are involved in the transfer and trafficking of arms and weapons into Somalia," it said. "These violations of the embargo may be taking place with or without the knowledge of the concerned states."

The monitoring group said it also learned from several sources that shipments of small arms "are regularly being supplied to certain businessmen and other parties... in Somalia through Kenya."

At this stage in the investigation, the monitoring group recommended that the list of violators "be called a watch list and remain confidential," noting that it will include individuals who should be investigated further "to establish clearly whether they continue to violate the arms embargo." - AP

- SAPA