Somalia, a country marked by a long civil war and persistent political instability, recently reached a crucial milestone in its reconstruction process. Indeed, the UN has decided to lift the arms embargo which had been in force since 1992. This symbolic measure represents recognition of the efforts undertaken by the Somali government to fight against the Shebab Islamists who are rampant in the country.
Since his election in 2022, Somali President Hassan Cheikh Mohamoud has made the fight against Shebab his top priority. His government has managed to achieve several victories against these extremist groups, but progress has slowed in recent months. The lifting of the embargo therefore supports the efforts made by the Somali government and will allow it to acquire more weapons to continue its fight against the Shebab.
It is important to emphasize that this UN decision does not mean a return to the free movement of arms in Somalia. Indeed, since 2013, easing measures had already been put in place and the Somali government could import weapons subject to prior notification to the UN sanctions committee. The complete lifting of the embargo is therefore above all symbolic, but it demonstrates the support of the international community for the Somali government in its fight against the Shebab.
The situation in Somalia has evolved considerably since the imposition of the embargo in 1992. At the time, the country was plunged into anarchy and weapons were circulating massively in the hands of warlords. Subsequently, the Islamic Courts, predecessors of the Shebab, took control of these weapons and used them to sow terror and establish their regime of radical extremism.
However, thanks to the intervention of the African force Amisom and the efforts of the Somali government, part of the territory was reconquered. In 2011, the capital Mogadishu was retaken, marking a turning point in the fight against Shebab. Today, although these terrorist groups still control certain regions, the Somali state is in a better position to confront them.
The Somali president pledged that imported weapons would not pose a threat to the Somali people or the rest of the world. Its Prime Minister, for his part, announced that lifting the embargo would allow the country to equip its army with sophisticated weapons and rebuild its military forces. However, some experts believe that the complete eradication of the Shebab remains a difficult goal to achieve at the moment.
In conclusion, the lifting of the arms embargo in Somalia is an important step in the process of reconstruction and the fight against the Shebab Islamists.. This decision, although symbolic, demonstrates the support of the international community for the Somali government in its quest for stability and security. It now remains to be seen how the country will use this new opportunity to strengthen its fight against Shebab and continue its path towards peace and prosperity.