President Mohamud appoints new adviser to oversee control of illegal arms

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Federal Republic of Somalia president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has appointed Mako Mohamud Muse as his advisor on controlling flow of illegal arms into the country.

President Mohamud noted that the appointment is part of the government’s plan to conform to the international requirements for the lifting of the arms embargo on Somalia imposed by the United Nations Security Council.

He observed that it is crucial to control flow of arms and ensure weapons do not fall into hands of criminals as a way of ensuring lasting peace and stability in Somalia.

President Mohamud said he had trust in the capability of the new advisor to deliver her duties and serve the people of Somalia diligently and efficiently.

Somalia has appealed to the UN Security Council to lift an arms embargo which has been running for years as the country struggled to fight various extremist groups including Al-Shabaab.

The African Union Peace and Security Council has expressed support for the consideration of Somalia’s request to have the ban lifted to ensure the country is sufficiently equipped to effectively address the threats posed by Al-Shabab and other terrorist groups.

 

said Somalia’s embargo should be lifted “to ensure that the country is sufficiently equipped to effectively address the security threats posed by Al-Shabaab and other terrorist groups active in Somalia, as it prepares to take over security responsibilities from Atmis at the end of the transition by 31 December 2024.”

Atmis, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, has a two-year draw-down programme to hand over security duties to Somalia’s security forces.