The United Nations Security Council will vote on Friday, December 13, on a resolution aimed at renewing sanctions against Al-Shabaab, Somalia’s most significant militant threat. The proposal seeks to cut off the group’s funding and arms supply while addressing issues like piracy and rival militant activities.
Drafted by the United Kingdom, the resolution extends sanctions until February 2025, targeting illegal arms imports, charcoal exports, and IED components. It also proposes renewing the UN Panel of Experts’ mandate until March 2025 to monitor compliance and advise on sanctions enforcement.
Al-Shabaab continues to exploit illegal taxation, arms trafficking, and raids on Somali National Army and African Union bases to sustain operations. Recent developments, including a rise in piracy and the growing influence of ISIL-Somalia, pose additional regional security challenges.
Somalia’s federal government supports the sanctions, emphasizing their role in destabilizing Al-Shabaab’s networks. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has highlighted international collaboration as key to addressing the group’s financing and arms flow.
The Security Council has debated the resolution extensively, balancing the need for immediate action with concerns over procedural timelines and the composition of monitoring bodies. A final decision is expected by early 2025, with further reviews contingent on Somalia’s progress in counterterrorism and weapons management.