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Somalia Situation and Arms embargo discussion
Topic Started: Oct 4 2014, 12:40 PM (300 Views)
Vonar Roberts

Somalia Situation and Arms embargo discussion
LIU Jieyi,
Permanent Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations
I would like to request a report on the current situation in Somalia from the commander of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), and I would also like to propose the expansion of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) with a mandate to further assist the government of Somalia.

We believe that the United Nations should also take measures to reduce the need of Somalians to turn to Piracy to make ends meat. Agricultural projects, infrastructure, power, and other construction projects managed through the United Nations could provide a solid economic foundation for Somalia and serve as a deterrence for people becoming members in the pirate organizations.

Additionally on the subject of counter-piracy the People's Republic of China intends to strengthen its force participating in international counter-piracy missions to consist of three frigates, and a Destroyer that will begin regular counter-piracy operations by June of this year. On behalf of the People's Republic of China I would like to extend a open invitation to all member nations of Combined Task Force 150 to conduct joint counter-piracy exercises with China's People's Liberation Army Navy.

The People's Republic of China would also like to take this opportunity to bring up the current Arms embargo placed on Somalia. In 2013 the United Nations partially lifted the arms embargo on Somalia for a year, and extended a partial suspension of the decades-old arms embargo on Somalia for eight months.

We would like to see a greater freedom for member states to provide material support to the legitimate Somalian government. While we are not proposing a complete removal of the embargo on Somalia I would like to propose that the United Nations moves to adjust the embargo to enable the Federal Republic of Somalia to purchase equipment that would help bolster its ability to train a army, fight terrorists, and defeat other elements that are operating within Somalia that seek to destabilize the country, and the region as a whole.
Edited by Vonar Roberts, Oct 4 2014, 12:41 PM.
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Juggernaught
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Ignace Gata Mavita wa Lufuta, Permanent Representative of the Democratic Republic of Congo to the UN



I mostly agree with you Mr. Jieyi. We feel that a total lifting of the arms embargo for the Transitional Government is needed to allow them the means to take back control and stabilize Somalia. If for whatever reason AMISOM manages to restore order in Somalia. It would take years for the Somailan government to establish a military and take over the responsibility maintaining peace within a newly stable Somalia.
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Jos1311
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Posted Image Samantha Power
United States Ambassador to the United Nations

High Representatives,

I fail to see how the arms embargo against Somalia can be further lifted, as the latest resolution, being UNSC resolution 2093, explicitly states that the embargo "shall not apply to deliveries of weapons or military equipment or the provision of advice, assistance or training, intended solely for the development of the security forces of the Federal Government of Somalia, and to provide security for the Somali people, except in relation to deliveries of the items set out in the annex to this resolution." The wording of the resolution clearly states that arms can be supplied, on the condition that they are intended solely for the development of the security forces of the Federal Government of Somalia, and may not be resold to, transferred to, or made available for use by, any individual or entity not in the service of the Security Forces of the Federal Government of Somalia.

A total lifting of the embargo would make it possible for non-government aligned organizations to acquire weapons, a matter that Washington would not believe to be positive for the stability in Somalia. Washington would be supportive of extending the current resolution, but fails to see how a broader lifting of the embargo would aid Somalia. Seeing that Beijing believes such would, I request the Chinese delegation to explain this to the other members of the General Assembly.

OOC
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Vonar Roberts


OOC:
The resolution was only enabling the arms embargo to be lifted for a year, thus it makes sense that in time-specific resolutions that it would be "activated" all ready since the year period has all ready come and gone. In this case it was lifted in March 2013, and was supposed to be reviewed in 2014.

http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2013/sc10931.doc.htm
Edited by Vonar Roberts, Oct 5 2014, 09:49 AM.
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Jos1311
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Vonar Roberts
Oct 5 2014, 09:48 AM
OOC:
The resolution was only enabling the arms embargo to be lifted for a year, thus it makes sense that in time-specific resolutions that it would be "activated" all ready since the year period has all ready come and gone. In this case it was lifted in March 2013, and was supposed to be reviewed in 2014.

http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2013/sc10931.doc.htm
And again I refer to the policy that has been in place for years, namely that unless it is addressed IG it is assumed to have been extended. As I have said before and will state again it is impossible to keep track of all those things, and the general regulation will thus apply for it, unless the mod team has posted anything about it IG. This has not been the case, thus the resolution is expected to be active for this year as well.
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DK_FROGGY
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H.E. Dr Elmi Ahmed Duale - Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Somalia to the United Nations


High representatives, honoured Mr. Liu.

I would like to state my gratitude for the issues of my struggling country being addressed in this chamber. Our battle against the Al-Shabaab insurgents is a difficult and wearing one and we truly appreciate the assistance provided by AMISOM. While I will allow Mr. Mahamat Saleh Annadif, Head of AMISOM, or Lt Gen Silas Ntigurirwa, military commander of AMISOM, to provide the report, I can say that the last six months have been a stalemate. An expansion of the mission would be welcomed, to drive out the insurgents from the territory they possess.

I agree with the honorable Ms. Powers that a further lifting of the weapons embargo will likely do more harm than good, as it would allow the sale of weapons to non-governmental parties. This would obviously hinder our attempts of establishing a stable government in a country that has too long suffered from internal struggles. With that being said, I do however appreciate the Chinese intentions.

While the battle against Al-Shabaab is currently a very serious and important issue, I am truly grateful for the Chinese interest in improving the economy and infrastructure of my country. The Somali people are among the absolutely poorest in the world and would immensely benefit the people and create trust in the current government, as well as the international community. Aid and investments are needing in a variety of fields, and any help offered is warmly welcomed. The agricultural sector is one the Federal Republic of Somalia values, as feeding our people is of utmost importance. However, oil and mineral explorations could provide a boost to our economy, and the spread of access to clean water and electricity would do wonders in the daily lives of my people.

Thank you again, Mr. Liu, for bringing up this important matter. We hope the rest of the international community will show the same kind-heartedness as our Chinese friends.
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iceviking
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Posted Image Harald Braun
Ständige Vertretung Deutschlands bei den Vereinten Nationen | Permanent Representative of Germany to the UN

Germany is willing to co-operate with Somalia in the fields of education, medical and agriculture. We believe that the weapon ban should be amended, but as the Americans have said this will stop other organisation in Somalia obtaining weapons. Germany believes that the international community should support the AU effort in Somalia, either by donating of aid or equipment. Germany is willing to offer the AU mission 10 Marder APC for patrol work.
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winisle
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Major General Francis Nthenge
Kenyan AMISOM Officer

I stand before the world today in order to present the findings of AMISOM and the Comission on terrorism and violent extremism in Africa. My name is Major General Francis Nthenge and I am currently serving as AMISOM’s Deputy Force Commander Support.

We can see that terrorism and violent extremism in Africa, specially in the area surrounding the Horn of Africa, is intertvined with organized crime, specializing in drug, weapons and human trafficking, kidnapping for ransom, piracy and money laundring.

Terrorists and extremists are more and more using Africa as a training and basing ground for attacks against western targets, in and outside of Africa. This makes the situation a concern for more than the nations in Africa.

The emergence and redeployment of terrorist groups in Africa and, in particular, in the Horn of Africa region can be explained by six main reasons:
(i) Poverty, illiteracy and high rate of unemployment among the youth and the general
population, which render them vulnerable to the manipulative messages of terrorist groups
and their promises of quick gain;
(ii) Poor working conditions, insufficient training and discipline of law enforcement personnel
that make them easy prey for corruption;
(iii) The search for safe havens and refuge by criminal networks in a zone characterized by
vast territorial expanses, low and insufficient security coverage and administrative presence;
(iv) The quest for new sources of funding, especially through smuggling, drug trafficking and illegal migration;
(v) The need to conquer new areas for recruitment and redeployment with the objective of
expanding the confrontation field beyond their traditional zone of operations;
(vi) Government institutional weaknesses and the existence of long stretches of porous, largely
ill-monitored and poorly controlled borders, which, combined with vast, ill‐administered spaces
of territory, facilitate illegal cross-border movement of people and goods and provide fertile
ground for exploitation by terrorists and transnational organized criminals.

What I am asking the world for, what Kenya is asking the world for, is not some small hand-outs of military hardware, it is that the world assists in two areas, namely;
- The removal of terrorism funding
- Aid in removing the recruitment ground for terrorists

How can this be done?
- Piracy, and kidnapping-for-money, is a key element of funding for terrorists in the Horn of Africa area. If this can be curbed, then the funding that Al Shabaab has will drastically be reduced, and thus their ability to influence people and acquire weapons.
- Border surveillance. The borders in the region are long and porous, and no nation in the region has the funds, or technical ability to maintain a proper border surveillance, as this needs drones and/or satellites. The response teams are there, we just need to know where to go!
- Most importantly, remove recruitment base. For this to be achieved, we need to reverse the tide of poverty and provide the young people of the region with a purpose and hope for the future, a hope that isn't tied to an extremist agenda.
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Degen83
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Vijay K. Nambiar
Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations

Major General Francis Nthenge brings up some good points. India has collaberated with many nations with our Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme, and have made recent progress on our Pan African e-Network project.

Therefor we are going to focus for the next year of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme to help Somalis and other at risk peoples in Africa to gain an education and job prospects to help eliminate the recruitment base and even the need for terrorism in these communities.

These steps should decrease some of the need for these young men to participate in such il.licit activities.
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winisle
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Kenya would like to see more constructive participation by European and other industrialized and rich nations in how we can meet and overcome the difficulties that has been described as identified reasons and drivers behind the Somali issue.
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