Countering the arms race in Somalia

The 2023 Global Organized Crime Index reveals that Somalia is a hub for arms trafficking in Africa, with an increase in illicit weapons circulation over the years. Various criminal groups, including local militias and extremist organizations, are heavily involved in this market, using weapons for violent attacks and other crimes. Despite these challenges, the UN Security Council decided to end the arms embargo on the Somali government while extending sanctions on al-Shabaab militants. The lifting of the embargo aims to…