UNSC extends AMISOM mandate

NEW YORK, Oct 24 (KUNA) -- United Nations Security Council adopted Friday resolution 2182 extending mandate of African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) until October 30, 2015.
Security Council decided to renew AMISOM mandate until October 30, 2015, and reiterated that 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 (FGS).
The resolution expected deliveries of the items set out in the annex of earlier adopted resolution 2111 (2013).
It also welcomed the steps taken by the Federal Government of Somalia to establish effective mechanisms in managing its weapons and military equipment, including the Arms and Ammunition Steering Committee, noting with regret "that these structures are not functioning with the required level of efficiency nor at all levels of government." The UNSC expressed its disappointment that a weapons registration process has not yet commenced, despite their earlier appeal in May in its Presidential Statement.
It then urged the FGS to implement this process without further delay.
The Council also condemned the ongoing export of charcoal from Somalia, in violation of the "total ban on the export of charcoal from Somalia".
The resolution also condemned the flow of weapons and military equipment to AI Shabaab and other armed groups which are not part of the security forces of the FGS, and expressed serious concern at the destabilizing impact of such weapons.
Furthermore, the resolution decided to extend the mandate of the Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group until November,30, 2015.(end) mao.ibi