By Somalilandtimes network

Somaliland Forum Press Release

London, UK, March 27th, 2006  – Inter Governmental Authority on Development’s (IGAD) recent meeting in Nairobi, Kenya has led IGAD to ask the United Nations to lift the arms embargo placed on Somalia in 1992. In fact, the UN special envoy for Somalia Francois Lonseny Fall ill-advisedly hinted that upon IGAD’s request the arms embargo will be lifted by the UN Security Council. Lifting the arms embargo at this stage would signal that the UN advocates ending political discourse for the mass delivery of weapons to warlords and militia men who are resolute in their destruction.

The flow of weaponry to an already unstable situation only encourages the militia groups to arm themselves more than they currently have and cause further carnage. The UN would be remiss to overlook the original reasons the arms embargo was a necessity in the first place.

Firstly, the international community was to admonish Somalia’s warlord-ism by not rewarding them with more weapons. Secondly, the influx of weapons to militia and tribal leaders were to be eliminated so that one couldn’t impose bloodshed on others. Thirdly, the international community was to remain impartial until political dialogue brought stability to Somalia. And lastly, if weapons are allowed to be in abundance, arms dealers will have no shortage of willing buyers.

The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia and its President Abdillahi Yusuf’s attempt to deceive the UN and IGAD to acquire weapons to neutralize their opposition must not be allowed. They don’t represent the majority in Somalia and if political means doesn’t get them there they are willing to shoot their way in. Moreover, arms embargo deters neighboring nations from supplementing their ‘warlord’ of choice which in-turn galvanizes the international community to adhere to the embargo.

Somaliland Forum vehemently advises the UN against lifting the arms embargo as the civilian catastrophe would be incalculable. Somalia is a theatre where many actors simply don’t care for others but look to the day when they get a deaths grip on power and never let go. The arms embargo must be kept in place and diplomacy and political dialogue be continued. The UN and AU must condemn IGAD and curtail the TFG’s ambition to accumulate weapons rather than commit to relevant and serious political dialogue.

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Somaliland Forum   is an independent Diaspora   think-tank that advocates for the Sovereignty, Democracy and socioeconomic development of   the Republic of Somaliland. We work with Somaliland communities, supporters, governments and NGO's. For more information please contact: chair@somalilandforum.com