Somalia: U.S. Breaks Somalia Arms Embargo, Helping Local Militias Fighting
Al-Qaeda
30 July 2012
Washington - Twenty years after it helped establish a United Nations arms
embargo on war-torn Somalia, the United States is now violating this
international effort by helping local militias fighting Al-Qaeda.
According to the UN's Somalia Eritrea Monitoring Group, the U.S.is carrying
out three covert programs to assist Somali fighters in their battles with
Al-Shabab, the Somalia affiliate of Al-Qaeda.
The Central Intelligence Agency has reportedly sent officers to the
government of Puntland, a semi-autonomous region not recognized by the UN.
Also, American Special Forces are fighting alongside Puntland soldiers.
The Obama administration has not notified the UN of these activities, which
is required under the embargo established in 1992 after theSomaliacivil war
broke out.
The U.S.is not the only country violating the embargo. At least 11 other
governments have failed to inform the UN of cargo flights to supply various
parties in the Somalia conflict.
