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UN imposes arm embargo on Eritrea for support to Somali insurgents

December 23, 2009 (UNITED NATIONS) — The United Nations Security Council imposed today an arm embargo on Eritrea for aid provided to Somali Islamist rebels.

The Security Council in a resolution backed by 13 from the 15 members passed an an arms embargo and asset freezes and travel bans on Eritrea and individuals and firms to be designated by an existing sanctions committee including leading political and military officials.

Besides, the support to Somali insurgents, the Council mentioned Asmara refusal to withdraw troops from the disputed border area with Djibouti.

Libya, the current African Union chair and one of the African members at the Security Council voted against the resolution while China which has a veto in the Council abstained.

Uganda, which has peacekeeping troops in Somalia that have been targeted by Al-Shebab, drafted the resolution after the African Union called on the council in May to punish Eritrea over its role in Somalia.

The vote in the 15-member body was 13 in favor, with veto-wielding China abstaining and Libya, the lone Arab council member and the current African Union chair, casting a “no” vote.

The resolution demands that Asmara “cease all efforts to destabilize or overthrow, directly or indirectly” the Somali transitional government.

It urges member states to conduct inspections on their territory, including seaports and airports, of “all cargo to and from Somalia and Eritrea” if there is reasonable grounds to believe the shipments contain banned weapons or related material.

It further presses Eritrea to withdraw troops immediately from disputed territories along its frontier with Djibouti, and engage in diplomatic efforts leading to “a mutually acceptable” settlement of their long-running border dispute.

Eritrean ambassador at the United Nations, Araya Desta, rejected the resolution and slammed what he called a “shameful resolution based on fabricated lies mainly concocted by the Ethiopian regime and the US administration.”

Both the African Union and the east African Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) bloc — which groups Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda — have been calling since July for UN sanctions to punish Eritrea for backing Somali rebels.

(ST)

3 Comments

  • Samson Shawel Ambaye
    Samson Shawel Ambaye

    UN imposes arm embargo on Eritrea for support to Somali insurgents
    God be with UNSC member states AU and international community.
    Leaders of Shabia deserve war crime arrest. As long as Shabia exists Red Sea and Sea Port of Red Sea is like nuclear weapons in the hands of wrong leaders. If the international community does not control Red Sea and the Sea Port they can use Horn of Africa for destructive purpose.

    Reply
  • Time1
    Time1

    UN imposes arm embargo on Eritrea for support to Somali insurgents
    Eritrea really forced this sanction on itself, why involve yourself in somalia? if you have an issue with Ethiopia or America just address it directly to them, do not victimaize somalia.

    Reply
  • khasami
    khasami

    UN imposes arm embargo on Eritrea for support to Somali insurgents
    I think these united nation security council members,they didnot know what will be the consicounse .for instant lets take these countries imposes sanction,this will leads more and more migration and so on .look! in a month how many Eritreans leave thier home land to neighbour countries(sudan),this was before.so what will be thier number after that.

    Reply
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