Arms flows to Somalia soar, despite U.N. embargo

[Fyr]

By Evelyn Leopold

 

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Arms flowing into lawless Somalia have increased dramatically over the last eight months through smuggling and shipments from Yemen, Ethiopia and Eritrea in violation of a U.N. weapons embargo, a panel of experts reported on Friday.

 

The four-member panel, appointed by the U.N. Security Council, proposed that the council slap an embargo on charcoal exports and foreign fishing vessels in Somalia's waters, the main source of revenue for warlords and pirates to buy arms.

 

Both Somalia's transitional government, which includes dissident warlords, and those warlords opposed to them are gearing up for a military showdown, the 60-page report said.

 

"The political process has apparently taken a back seat to these military preparations," the panel added.

 

Somalia has been in a state of chaos for 14 years with clan rivalries fueled by guns left over from the Cold War and an arms market in Mogadishu to buy new ones. Some human rights groups estimate 500,000 Somalis have lost their lives.

 

The United States and then a combined U.S.-U.N. force intervened in 1992-1993 but left several years later with the country in shambles. Neighboring nations have now helped form a Transitional Federal Government, known as the TFG.

 

The report recorded some 175 transactions in weapons exchanges over the last eight months, which it said was a 378 percent increase over the previous year involving 10 ministers and the president of the TFG, Abdullahi Yusuf.

 

Yemen's government admitted it had sent at least 5,000 "personal weapons" to what it called the legitimate government of Somalia so it could disarm bandits.

 

But the report said Yusuf had negotiated a much larger deal for rocket launchers, anti-tank weapons, shoulder-fired missiles and other armaments.

 

Neighboring Ethiopia was also supplying the TFG militia, although the government denied it. But the panel monitoring the embargo said TFG forces were "supplied with a steady flow of arms from Ethiopia," and photographed them, including heavy machine guns.

 

The Ethiopian military had conducted military training for TFG militias and the warlords that ran them, the report said.

 

In addition, another country in the region, which U.N. officials said was Eritrea, was sending arms to opposition warlords and groups "for the purpose of countering support provided to the TFG by Ethiopia."

 

The panel did not name Eritrea because it had not completed its investigation but said monitors were "convinced that the information was of sufficient quality and credibility to merit its inclusion in the report."

 

In general, the prospect of creating a viable government in Somalia was a threat to some factions in the TFG itself, warlords, businessmen, traders and religious fundamentalists, the report said.

 

They were used to "operating in a lawless territory carved out their own kingdoms, replete with personal political power and ambitions, military-style muscle in the form of their own militia and, probably most importantly, the ongoing accumulation of personal wealth," the panel concluded.

[Suldaanka]

The ReportPDF FILE

 

The Monitoring Group has determined during the current mandate period that

arms flows from Yemen to Somalia came not only from criminal groups (to BAM

for purchase by the opposition)

but also from the Government of Yemen directly to TFG

. Using military aircraft (Antonov 26) to transport arms shipments from Aden,

Yemen, to Bossaso, Puntland, in direct State support for TFG and President

Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, the Yemeni Air Force delivered arms on eight occasions

between 2 and 10 July 2005.

UN resolution 733...

 

[set out in

resolution

733 (1992), the arms embargo on Somalia prohibits financing of all acquisitions and deliveries of weapons and military equipment. It also prohibits the direct or indirect supply to Somalia of technical advice, financial and other assistance, and training related to military activities.]

What is the use of it, if it isn't being enforced?

[Sky]

This UN embargo is blocking the resurrection of Somalia. Somalia needs to build up a solid security force.

 

In general, the prospect of creating a viable government in Somalia was a threat to some factions in the TFG itself, warlords, businessmen, traders and religious fundamentalists, the report said.

 

They were used to "operating in a lawless territory carved out their own kingdoms, replete with personal political power and ambitions, military-style muscle in the form of their own militia and, probably most importantly, the ongoing accumulation of personal wealth," the panel concluded.

These are the daanyeers we need to eradicate. As far as I'm concerned, let the UN arms embargo be ignored. These thugs will bite the dust in an arms race.

[Suldaanka]

The weapons that this ailing warlord imports now will still have detrimental effects on the average Somali long after he is gone.

 

Lets face it, the bulk of the weapons that are flooded in the streets of every village and township, are the weapons and mines that Afweyne imported.

 

Ayax tag oo eelna reeb

 

As for eradicating anything, xataa hadii Col. Yey Dawladda Ethiopia ciidankeedu soo raaco, I don't think he would achieve much. Sxb Somali waa is taqaan. Hubka uu soo dejistay ayaa lagula dagaalami doona. Trust me.