New York - Somalia's foreign minister is urging the United Nations Security Council to lift the 20-year-old arms embargo on the country so its armed forces can fight off al-Qaeda-linked militants and consolidate peace.
Fawzia Y. H. Adam, who is also the deputy prime minister, told the council on Thursday that the Somali government will institute measures “to ensure that armaments do not fall into the wrong hands”.
Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Taye-Brook Zerihoun told the council that Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has suggested “a calibrated approach” which would take into account the need to support the development of Somalia's forces while avoiding weapons proliferation, which could exacerbate the security situation.
He stressed that development of the security sector in Somalia must be coupled with judiciary reforms and respect for human rights. - Sapa-AP