May
15
DDTC Announces Partial Lifting of Somalia Arms Embargo
Posted by Clif Burns at 5:23 pm on May 15, 2007
Category: Arms Export • U.N. Sanctions
The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (“DDTC”) announced today that it was amending section 126.1 of the ITAR to reflect a partial lifting of the arms embargo against Somalia. These amendments are being adopted to implement revisions made to the Somalia arms embargo by U.N. Security Council Resolution 1744 adopted on February 21, 2007. Thee three month delay in announcing the amendments, which have not yet even been published in the Federal Register, indicates that revising the arms embargo on Somalia was not exactly put on the front burner at DDTC.
In January this year, an offensive by Ethiopian troops overthrew the fundamentalist Islamic militia that had ruled the country and allowed the emergence of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (“TFG”). The TFG is the result of mediation by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. Formed in late 2004, the TFG governed from neighboring Kenya and then moved to Baidoa, a city in Western Sudan. On January 8, 2007, the TFG established itself in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. Shorthly thereafter, the African Union announced that it was opening a mission in Somalia aimed at promoting stability in Somalia as the TFG attempts to establish itself, consolidate power, and transition to a democracy through elections in 2009.
The UN resolution lifted the arms embargo in two respects. First, it permits export to Somalia of “weapons and military equipment, technical training and assistance intended solely for the support of or use by” the AU Mission. Second, it permits exports of the such military supplies, assistance and training “intended solely for the purpose of helping develop security sector institutions, consistent with the political process” leading to the establishment of the TFG and elections in 2009. The meaning of “security sector institutions” is unclear, but all such exports need to be notified to the Security Council Committee on Somalia and may proceed only in the absence of a negative decision by the Council within five days of such notification.
Continued violence and unrest in Somalia suggest that the January victory of the Islamic militias may not have been complete and call into question whether the TFG will be able to bring stability to the nation with a view towards elections in 2009. The U.S. seems to harbor some skepticism about the situation in Somalia, and this could well explain the delay by DDTC in implementing Resolution 1744.
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Copyright © 2007 Clif Burns. All Rights Reserved.
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6 Comments:
Dear Media
I, one of the Somali Community leaders in Minnesta, where the biggest Somali/American population in America reside, appallaude this amenment in the light of Somali TFG being strengthened to end 17 years of anarchy, civil strife, , widespread of rape of women, genocides, paracy and the worst of human rights abuses on earth.
We wonder what we will think of those nations who opposed these amemnments, when we stand on our feet and show our true colors, will they feel bad and guilty on the statue of Annoying Politics of simpilty
Thank you for all nations who voted at all
Abdirizak A Bihi
Cedar Riverside neighborhood, Minneapols, Minnesota Nice, USA
Every year, the U.S. Congressional Research Service releases a report looking at arms transfers to the developing world. They provide insight into where the arms are going. The report also known Grimmett Report, notes that, the developing nations continue to be the primary focus of foreign arms sales of $30.2 billion dollars, in arms transfer agreements in 2005 alone (the highest for the entire 1998-2005 period. This and other similar reports high light that spending on weapons is the primary objectives of the third world leaders. Abdilahi Yusuf of Somalia is good example of this third world leaders arms, arms, and more arms mentality.
His first speech at the United Nations meeting was:”I need arms, lift the embargo”. Instead of addressing to the UN how Somali people suffered for last 16 years and need food, medicine and education.
I think the world community should not give in to the demands of the greedy and supply them with arms.
I, a sane Somali national wish the embargo is put back in place.
Hakim
University of Western Ontario.
In Somalia, we need peace and reconciliation, not arms. Abdullahi youssuf (nicknamed “yey” or wolf) and his Ethiopian masters have committed genocide in Mogadishu recently. More arms means more death. Who benfita? May be Abdullahi Wolf, may be dictator Zenawi of Ethiopia, may be arms producers and traders, but definitely not the victimized Somali people.
Not really sure what’s going on, but I must admit that I really like the phrase “Annoying Politics of simpilty.” It just slides off the tongue…. 🙂
Not really sure what’s going on, but I must admit that I really like the phrase “Annoying Politics of simpilty.” It just slides off the tongue….
Me either. But we’ve been getting a fair number of interesting visitors ever since we started getting indexed and reported on Google News.
I also attend to agree with the second commenter, because I’m skeptical about the prospects of the TFG, particularly given the recent rise in violence there.
Well, Cliff, at least that’s confirmation that you’ve “made it.” Congrats. 🙂
