U.N. Council Orders an Arms Embargo in Somalia Conflict
The U.N. Security Council on Thursday imposed an arms embargo against combatants in Somalia’s civil war and urged all warring factions to agree to an immediate cease-fire.
The 15-member council unanimously adopted the resolution that calls for the embargo on the Horn of Africa nation and asks Boutros Boutros-Ghali, the secretary general, to prepare a massive program of humanitarian assistance.
Some developing nations had argued that the arms embargo represents a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty, because the combatants are within the nation’s territory and the conflict does not involve another nation.
The U.N. Charter prohibits interference in a nation’s internal affairs, but the council had already set a precedent by ordering an embargo on combatants in Yugoslavia.
An estimated 20,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed or wounded since November in the Somali power struggle between tribal warlords since longtime President Mohamed Siad Barre fled the country last January.
Central authority has broken down, and the state is nonexistent.
The resolution strongly urges all parties to immediately agree to a cease-fire.
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