UAE violates UN arm embargo in Somalia

The UAE is violating internationals sanctions on the sale of arms to war-torn countries by supplying Somalia weapons, a UN report has revealed.

According to monitors, the continuous support of some foreign countries for terror in Somalia threatens peace and security due to the possible return of piracy off the Somali coast.

The report said that it had enough proofs that a UAE ship could have been carrying illegal weapons and banned materials to Somali before it was intercepted and kidnapped.

The report noted that EU drones recorded the Emirati ship changed its route, got closer to Somali beaches, two small boats approached it and exchanged shipments with it.

In addition, the report explained that the UAE’s activities in the Somali city of Barbara, saying: “The plans to build an Emirati military base in Barbara are going on very quickly,” noting that the monitors asked the UAE reports whether building the base does not violate the arms embargo, but the UAE did not respond.

The monitors said that building a foreign military base includes moving weapons to the region and this is a violation of the weapons embargo, stressing that any foreign contribution to the official Somali institution in the country must get their agreement.

SOURCE: Middleeastmonitor