Posted Monday, December 5th, 2011 at 5:05 pm
The U.N. Security Council has tightened sanctions against Eritrea after African nations appealed to the world body for more action.
The council Monday voted 13-0 in favor of the resolution with China and Russia abstaining.
The resolution condemns Eritrea for violating sanctions imposed in 2009 by continuing to provide support to Islamist militants in Somalia, including al-Shabab. Asmara denies aiding al-Shabab or any other militant groups.
The resolution allows the council to increase the number of individuals and entities that can face a travel ban and assets freeze. The final version dropped language from earlier drafts that sought to ban investment in Eritrea's mining industry and outlaw imports of its minerals.
Members of a six-nation bloc in Eastern Africa asked the United Nations to toughen sanctions against Eritrea, saying that the world body must “act now” because the region's stability is at stake.
Government officials from Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya and Uganda addressed the U.N. Security Council in New York by video link earlier Monday.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said the U.N. must send a clear signal to warn Eritrea that it cannot destabilize the region without consequences.
Eritrea is already subject to U.N. sanctions, including an arms embargo, because of its alleged support for al-Shabab.
Al-Shabab is attempting to overthrow the U.N.-backed Somali government and set up an Islamic state.
The group was recently pushed out of the capital, Mogadishu, by Somali government and African Union forces, but still controls large sections of southern and central Somalia.
In October, Kenyan sent troops into Somalia to pursue al-Shabab, after accusing the group of kidnapping foreigners on Kenyan soil.
Somalia has endured 20 years of conflict and lawlessness since the collapse of the last stable government in 1991.
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Received on Mon Dec 05 2011 - 16:21:02 EST