Security Council’s Bold Steps in Somalia’s Security Landscape
Mogadishu (AX) — On a reflective Friday, the United Nations Security Council gathered with a unified resolve that echoed their commitment to peace and stability in Somalia. The Council has not only renewed but also bolstered its maritime interdiction strategies, aiming to dismantle the networks facilitating the smuggling of weapons, which have long empowered Al-Shabaab in maintaining its grip through illegal trade.
In an emblem of solidarity, the 15-member Council passed Resolution 2775 (2025) in full agreement, building on the frameworks set by preceding resolutions. This latest mandate, active until March 3, 2025, underscores the necessity to tighten the noose around Al-Shabaab’s activities, which threaten the very fabric of regional and global tranquility. This is what nations must stand against—what defines our shared human mission.
The resolution offers UN Member States the carte blanche to intercept and scrutinize vessels suspected of weapon trafficking or carrying illicit charcoal. This jurisdiction spans the Somali waters and extends into greater maritime zones, including the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf. However, the action mustn’t lack justification; there must be “reasonable grounds” for suspecting that a ship is ferrying banned arms, military hardware, or components designed for improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.” — Nelson Mandela
It doesn’t stop at interception. The decision empowers states to take hold and appropriately dispose of any contraband found during checks. Particularly, charcoal—a vital revenue stream for the militants barred from export since 2012—can now be redirected for sale under strict supervision. The Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group ensures such sales do not inadvertently fill the coffers of armed factions. This presents us with an important consideration: how can regulations walk the tightrope between security and fairness?
With the shift in 2023 away from an arms embargo on Somalia’s government forces, due to lifted restrictions, focus narrows on non-state actors like Al-Shabaab, which relentlessly exploits both seafaring and overland smuggling corridors. Despite advancements, Somalia’s security apparatus, while making strides, still finds its reach limited over its expansive maritime domain. The Somali Navy and Coast Guard, under-resourced and over-extended, lean heavily on international fleets to plug these critical gaps.
Yet, smugglers remain wily adversaries, employing small, discreet vessels and dhows to mask their unlawful trade. A reminder, maybe, that necessity and cunning can often be intimate allies. Enforcing these embargoes has always been a daunting task, balancing on the razors edge of integrity and practicality.
Do these measures work? They have, in some respects. International naval patrols occasionally intercept arms bound for the insurgents, but Al-Shabaab adapts and evolves, exploiting loopholes and capitalizing on the porous borders with neighboring nations. This isn’t just a question of enforcement but of continued vigilance in evolving with the adversary.
The ban on Somali charcoal exports aimed to starve Al-Shabaab financially. True, it strained their resources, yet they rapidly pivoted, rerouting smuggled goods over land through the Horn of Africa, tapping into the Gulf’s markets. Remarkably, this adaptive resilience gives pause for thought about the unforeseen consequences of policy—the industry that supported local livelihoods, left devastated and clutching at straws, pleads for reconsideration.
The question lingers: Can the global community craft measures that snuff out militant activities without casting shadows on innocent lives? A recalibration seems prudent, if not necessary, to ensure the scales of justice do not tip too far from those they’re meant to protect.
