(01-Mar-23) Mogadishu, Somalia – Representatives of several nations, including Qatar, Somalia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, have pledged their support for Somalia’s efforts to lift the UN arms controls.
During a recent meeting in Washington, D.C., the international partners discussed various ways of supporting Somalia’s efforts to meet the benchmarks on weapons and ammunition management. The move aims to enable the UN Security Council to fully lift the arms controls on the Federal Government of Somalia.
The partners recognized the importance of enabling the Somali government to effectively manage its security and take full control of its own security situation. The ongoing insurgency led by the extremist group al-Shabaab has been a significant challenge to Somalia’s stability, and the international community’s support is crucial to the nation’s ongoing development.
The Somali government has been making significant progress in its efforts to combat terrorism and build capacity in the military and police forces. The partners acknowledged the importance of providing timely delivery of stabilization assistance to newly liberated areas and pledged to continue supporting Somalia’s efforts to meet the benchmarks on weapons and ammunition management.
The joint statement also emphasized the importance of political stability and reconciliation, with partners expressing their support for Somalia’s National Consultative Council process. The partners agreed to continue working in these areas and to reconvene in Doha, Qatar, within the next three months for ongoing discussions and to take stock of progress.
Somalia has experienced significant political and security challenges in recent years, including droughts, conflicts, and terror attacks. The international community’s support is crucial to Somalia’s ongoing stability and progress, and the partners’ pledge to support Somalia’s efforts to lift the UN arms controls is a significant step towards achieving this goal.
