Security Council

7127^th Meeting (AM)

Security Council, Adopting Resolution 2142 (2014), Partially Lifts Weapons Ban

On Somalia, Agreeing to End or Suspend It on basis of Full Compliance

The Security Council today authorized a partial lifting of its arms embargo on Somalia until 25 October.

Unanimously adoption resolution 2142 (2014) under the Charter’s Chapter VII, the Council decided that the embargo did not apply to deliveries of weapons, ammunition or military equipment, or the provision of advice, assistance or training intended solely for the development of Somalia’s Security Forces to provide security for Somalis, except in relation to deliveries of items set out in the annex of its resolution 2111 (2013).

By other terms, the Council decided that Somalia’s Federal Government had the primary responsibility to notify the Committee established pursuant to resolutions 751 (1992) and 1907 (2009) at least five days ahead of any such deliveries, and further, that the State, or international, regional or subregional organizations delivering such assistance, could, alternatively, make such a notification.

Notifications concerning the provision of weapons or military equipment should include, among other things, details of the manufacturer and supplier of the arms and ammunition, as well as a description of such material.  No later than 30 days after the delivery of arms and ammunition, Somalia should submit to the Committee written confirmation of the delivery’s completion and within five days of its distribution, inform it, also in writing, of the destination unit in the Somali National Security Forces or place of storage.

Also by the text, the Council requested Somalia to report by 13 June, and again by 13 September, on the structure, strength and composition of the Security Forces; the infrastructure in place to ensure the safe storage, registration, maintenance and distribution of military equipment; and the procedures and codes of conduct in place for the that purpose.

It requested the Secretary-General to provide recommendations, within 30 days, on United Nations and other technical assistance to the Federal Government.  For its part, the Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group was requested to provide Somalia feedback on its reporting to the Committee and keep the Council regularly informed on compliance.  The Council stressed that any decision to continue or end the partial suspension of the arms embargo on the Federal Government of Somalia would be taken in light of the thoroughness of its implementation of requirements.

Speaking after the adoption, Abdirahman Duale Beyle, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Somalia, said “we are a country in a serious war”, one in which terrorists did not observe the embargo.  Just weeks ago, the President was almost assassinated, showing the strength of those actors and the weakness of Somali forces.  “The reality is that we have to redouble our efforts to closely and diligently work with the Monitoring Group and the Council to do better next time,” he said.  Towards that end, his Government would do its utmost to see that the embargo was lifted.

The meeting began at 10:09 a.m. and ended at 10:15 a.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 2142 (2014) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Recalling its previous statements and resolutions on the situation in Somalia, in particular its resolutions 2036 (2012), 2093 (2013) and 2111 (2013),

“Reaffirming its respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and unity of Somalia,

“Noting the Federal Government of Somalia’s 6 February letter to the Security Council, welcoming the new information it provides, as well as noting its shortcomings, further noting the National Security Adviser to the Federal Government of Somalia’s 20 February letter to the Chair of the Committee, and encouraging it to continue to submit appropriately detailed information to the Security Council,

“Welcoming the measures taken by the Federal Government of Somalia to manage better its weapons and ammunition, and looking forward to the Federal Government of Somalia taking further steps to improve its weapons management further,

“Underlining the imperative need for the Federal Government of Somalia to improve its compliance with its requirements under the partial suspension of the arms embargo,

“Taking note of the Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group’s (SEMG) 6 February report on compliance by the Federal Government of Somalia with its requirements under the terms of the partial suspension of the arms embargo on the Federal Government of Somalia,

“Condemning flows of weapons and ammunition supplies to and through Somalia in violation of the arms embargo on Somalia, as well as the destabilizing accumulation and misuse of such weapons, as a serious threat to peace and stability in the region,

“Expressing serious concern that the requirements under the suspension of the arms embargo as set out in resolution 2093 (2013) and 2111 (2013) have not been fully met,

“Noting with concern the SEMG’s reports of diversions of arms and ammunition, including to Al-Shabaab, which has been cited as a potential recipient of diverted arms and ammunition, and further noting that, pursuant to paragraph 7 of resolution 1844 (2008), all Member States are required to take the necessary measures to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer of weapons and military equipment to designated individuals and entities, which includes Al-Shabaab,

“Stressing that any decision to continue or end the partial suspension of the arms embargo on the Federal Government of Somalia will be taken in the light of the thoroughness of the Federal Government of Somalia’s implementation of its requirements as set out in this and other relevant Security Council resolutions,

“Noting the request of the Federal Government of Somalia for assistance in weapons management, and encouraging relevant international actors, including the United Nations, to support the Federal Government of Somalia in managing weapons and military equipment in an effective manner,

“Reiterating the need for all Member States to respect and implement, in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions, their obligations with respect to preventing unauthorized deliveries of weapons and military equipment to Somalia and to prevent the direct or indirect import of charcoal from Somalia in violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions,

“Recalling the Informal Working Group on General issues of Sanctions report (S/2006/997) on best practices and methods, including paragraphs 21, 22 and 23 that discuss possible steps for clarifying methodological standards for monitoring mechanisms,

“Determining that the situation in Somalia continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security,

“Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

“1.   Reaffirms the arms embargo on Somalia, imposed by paragraph 5 of resolution 733 (1992) and further elaborated upon in paragraphs 1 and 2 of resolution 1425 (2002) and modified by paragraphs 33 to 38 of resolution 2093 (2013) and paragraphs 4 to 17 of resolution 2111 (2013);

“2.   Decides that, until 25 October 2014, the arms embargo on Somalia shall not apply to deliveries of weapons, ammunition 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, to provide security for the Somali people, except in relation to deliveries of the items set out in the annex of resolution 2111 (2013);

“3.   Decides that the Federal Government of Somalia has the primary responsibility to notify the Committee established pursuant to resolutions 751 (1992) and 1907 (2009) (the Committee) for its information at least five days in advance of any deliveries of weapons, ammunition or military equipment or the provision of advice, assistance or training to its Security Forces, as permitted in paragraph 2 of this resolution, as well as for the exemption procedure for those items set out in the annex of resolution 2111 (2013), as provided for by paragraph 7 of resolution 2111 (2013);

“4.   Decides that the Member State, international, regional or subregional organization delivering assistance may, in the alternative, make the notification referred to in paragraph 3 in consultation with the Federal Government of Somalia;

“5.   Decides that all such notifications concerning the provision of weapons or military equipment to the Committee shall include:  details of the manufacturer and supplier of the arms and ammunition, a description of the arms and ammunition including the type, calibre and quantity, proposed date and place of delivery, and all relevant information concerning the intended destination unit in the Somali National Security Forces, or the intended place of storage;

“6.   Further decides that, no later than 30 days after the delivery of arms or ammunition, the Federal Government of Somalia shall submit to the Committee a written confirmation of the completion of the delivery, including the serial numbers for the arms and ammunition delivered, shipping information, bill of lading, cargo manifests or packing lists, and the specific place of storage, and recognizes the value of the supplying Member State, international, regional or subregional organization doing the same, in cooperation with the Federal Government of Somalia;

“7.   Further decides that within five days of the distribution of imported arms or ammunition, the Federal Government of Somalia shall inform the Committee in writing of the destination unit in the Somali National Security Forces or the place of storage;

“8.   Reiterates that weapons or military equipment sold or supplied solely for the development of the Security Forces of the Federal Government of Somalia may not be resold to, transferred to, or made available for use by, any individual or entity not in the service of the Security Forces of the Federal Government of Somalia, and underlines the responsibility of the Federal Government of Somalia to ensure the safe and effective management, storage and security of their stockpiles;

“9.   Requests the Federal Government of Somalia to report to the Security Council by 13 June 2014 and again by 13 September 2014 on:

(a)  The structure, strength and composition (including the status of allied militia) of the Security Forces of the Federal Government of Somalia, including the names of current commanders, the locations of the headquarters, and the status of militias;

(b)  The infrastructure in place to ensure the safe storage, registration, maintenance and distribution of military equipment by the Security Forces of the Federal Government of Somalia, including details of all available armouries and storerooms, their location, storage capacity, staffing capacity, arms and ammunition management systems and status of use;

(c)  The procedures and codes of conduct in place for the registration, distribution, use and storage of weapons by the Security Forces of the Federal Government of Somalia and on training needs in this regard, including procedures for receipt, verification and recording of weapons imports through any Federal Government-controlled port of entry, procedures for the transport of weapons and ammunition with the Security Forces of the Federal Government of Somalia and the current systems of logging and auditing in the Security Forces of the Federal Government of Somalia;

“10.  Requests the Secretary-General to provide options and recommendations, within 30 days, on United Nations (including UNSOM) and other technical assistance to the Federal Government of Somalia in:

(a)  Complying with its requirements as set out in paragraphs 3 to 7 of this resolution and with the requests set out in paragraph 9 of this resolution;

(b)  Assisting in improving its capacities in the safe and transparent storage, distribution and management of weapons and military equipment, including in monitoring and verification;

“11.  Urges the Federal Government of Somalia, all other parties and States, as well as international, regional and subregional organizations, including AMISOM, to ensure cooperation with the Monitoring Group, and ensure the safety of the members of the Monitoring Group, unhindered access, in particular to persons, documents and sites the Monitoring Group deems relevant to the execution of its mandate;

“12.  Requests the SEMG to provide the Federal Government of Somalia feedback on its reporting to the Committee and to keep the Security Council regularly informed on compliance by the Federal Government of Somalia with this and other relevant Council resolutions;

“13.  Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.”

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For information media • not an official record