The United Nations Security Council is considering lifting a longstanding arms embargo on the Somali government to allow it to combat Islamist fighters, a draft resolution has suggested.
The Somalia government has asked for the arms embargo to be lifted with the backing of the United States, who has been pushing for the embargo to be lifted.
Despite strong calls to lift the arms embargo, Britain and France have been wary of removing the ban in the country that is already inundated unregulated with weapons.
As a comprise, a draft resolution drawn up by Britain proposed the lifting of the arms embargo for one year whilst keeping restrictions on heavy weapons.
The draft resolution stated that,
“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 ot provide security for the Somali people.”
The arms embargo was initially imposed by the 15-member Security Council in 1992, in an attempt to inhibit the flow of arms.
The council is scheduled to vote on the draft resolution on Wednesday, ahead of the expiration date of the mandate of the African Union peacekeeping force. The resolution would renew the AU peacekeeping force for another year.