Russia has called for the loosening of the arms embargo on Somalia to enable the country’s security forces acquire needed military equipment especially in the face of expected draw-down of the African Union force in 2018.

Russia’s representative Petr V. Iliichev told the Security Council sanctions committee the sanctions on Somalia were not cast on stone and must therefore be reviewed to ‘reflect changing situations’.

The UN Security Council in 1992 under Resolution 733 imposed an arms embargo on Somalia in response to the then conflict and the deteriorating humanitarian situation.

It has however revised the embargo in subsequent years to allow the Somali military limited access to weapons. The February 2007 Resolution 1744 allowed the supply of weapons and military equipment intended solely for the purpose of helping develop Somali security sector institutions.

Russia has maintained the embargo must be reviewed. It abstained from last year’s vote which extended the embargo to November 15, 2017. Italy said further progress in managing arms and ammunition should be taken into account in considering future sanctions.

Other countries however maintained the sanctions had helped prevent armed groups including Al-Shabaab from acquiring weapons. UK’s representative Matthew Rycroft said the arms embargo had supported Somalia’s fight against Al-Shabaab alongside Amisom troops. He however said a political process was crucial in laying the foundation for peace and security.

The sanctions committee strongly opined the militant group Al-Shabaab still posed a threat to Somalia and the region calling for concerted efforts to fight the group.