The Security Council first imposed a general and complete arms embargo on Somalia on 23 January 1992 with the adoption of resolution 733. Certain exceptions to the arms embargo were adopted by the Council in its resolutions 1356 (2001), 1725 (2006) in paragraph 6 of resolution 1744 (2007), and reiterated in paragraphs 11and 12 of resolution 1772 (2007). Additional exemptions were authorized by the Security Council in paragraph 12 of resolution 1846 (2008) and 11 of resolution 1851 (2008), with respect to efforts to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia.
By its resolution 1844 (2008), the Security Council decided to impose individual targeted sanctions (an arms embargo, including training and financial assistance, on individuals and entities; a travel ban on individuals; and an assets freeze on individuals and entities, as designated by the Committee). The same resolution provides exemptions from the measures and expands the mandate of the Committee.
The sanctions regime is summarized in the table below.
| Measure | Description (unofficial) |
Exceptions to the measure
|
Arms Embargo (territorial)
Arms Embargo (Targeted ban on arms transfers to individuals) |
All States shall immediately implement a general and complete arms embargo on all deliveries of weapons and military equipment to Somalia until the Council decides otherwise. Member States shall take the necessary measures to prevent the direct or indirect supply of weapons, military equipment, technical assistance, training, financial and other assistance, related to military activities, or to the supply of arms, to the individuals or entities designated by the Committee. |
Set out in paragraphs 2 and 3 of resolution 1356 (2001), in paragraph 6 of resolution 1744 (2007), and reiterated in paragraphs 11and 12 of resolution 1772 (2007), as well as in paragraph 12 of resolution 1846 (2008) and paragraph 11 of resolution 1851 (2008). |
Travel Ban |
All States shall take the necessary measures to prevent the entry into or transit through their territories of individuals designated by the Committee |
Set out in paragraph 2 of resolution 1844 (2008) |
| Assets Freeze | All States shall freeze without delay funds, other financial assets and economic resources owned or controlled by individuals and entities designated by the Committee | Set out in paragraph 4 of resolution 1844 (2008) |
A Panel of Experts was established by resolution 1425 (2002) to generate information on violations of the arms embargo with a view toward strengthening it. The Panel of Experts was succeeded by a Monitoring Group established pursuant to resolution 1519 (2003) to focus on the ongoing arms embargo violations. The Monitoring Group continues to be in operation and its mandate was most recently extended for a period of 12 months by resolution 1853 (2008), and expanded in light of the new sanctions measures, to carry out the tasks set out in paragraphs 23 (a) to (c) of resolution 1844 (2008).
View available reports of the Panel of experts and of the Monitoring Group
The current Chairman of the Committee, for the period ending 31 December 2009, is His Excellency Mr. Claude Heller (Mexico). The two Vice-Chairs for 2009 are Croatia and Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. The Committee publishes annual reports of its activities. The Committee has guidelines for the conduct of its work.