UN Security Council Renews Sanctions Monitoring Mandate on Al-Shabaab Until 2026

GOOBJOOG NEWS|NEW YORK: The UN Security Council on Friday unanimously agreed to renew the mandate of the panel overseeing sanctions on the Somalia-based militant group Al-Shabaab.

The resolution, backed by all 15 Council members, extends authorization for naval inspections to enforce the arms embargo on Somalia, along with restrictions on charcoal exports and controls on improvised explosive devices, until Nov. 30, 2026.

Other sanctions measures targeting the group, including travel bans, asset freezes and the broader arms embargo, will remain in force without a fixed end date.

James Kariuki, Britain’s chargé d’affaires to the United Nations, welcomed the vote, thanking Council members for what he described as a constructive negotiation process. The United Kingdom served as the penholder on Somalia and led discussions on the text.

He said the renewed mandate would strengthen efforts to limit Al-Shabaab’s access to weapons, disrupt its financial networks and support Somalia in building its security capacity.

Al-Shabaab has waged an insurgency against the Somali government for more than 16 years, carrying out frequent attacks on security forces, government officials and civilians.

Since late 2024, the Somali National Army, alongside security forces in the semi-autonomous Puntland region, has intensified air operations against Al-Shabaab in southern and central Somalia, as well as against Islamic State fighters in the northeastern Bari region, with backing from international partners.

The government said last month that 220 precision airstrikes had been carried out since February, killing 868 militants.