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Restrictions & Sanctions

United Nations Security Council Resolutions on Somalia

United Nations sanctions include:

  • Arms embargo: Embargo on supplying arms and related material/services to designated individuals and entities.
  • Asset freeze: Freezing of funds and economic resources of designated individuals and entities.
  • Charcoal ban: Import ban on wood charcoal and certain related services.
  • Travel ban: Restrictions on admission of designated individuals.

Arms embargo

UNSC Resolution 733 (1992) dated 23 January 1992 imposed a general and complete arms embargo on all deliveries of weapons and military equipment to Somalia (para. 5).

UNSC Resolution 1356 (2001) dated 19 June 2001 provided exemption to the arms embargo for (i)  protective clothing, including flak jackets and military helmets, temporarily exported to Somalia by United Nations personnel, representatives of the media and humanitarian and development workers and associated personnel for their personal use only and (ii) supplies of non-lethal military equipment intended solely for humanitarian or protective use, as approved in advance by the sanctions committee.

UNSC Resolution 1425 (2002) dated 22 July 2002 elaborated on the arms embargo by stressing that it prohibits financing of all acquisitions and deliveries of weapons and military equipment; and that the direct or indirect supply to Somalia of technical advice, financial and other assistance, and training related to military activities (paras. 1 and 2).

UNSC Resolution 1725 (2006) dated 6 December 2006, UNSC Resolution 1744 (2007) dated 21 February 2007 and  UNSC Resolution 1772 (2007) dated 20 August 2007 provided exemption to the arms embargo for the supplies of weapons and military equipment, technical training and assistance intended solely for the support of or use by the African Union mission.

UNSC Resolution 1851 (2008) dated 16 December 2008 affirmed that the arms embargo shall not apply to weapons and military equipment destined for the sole use of Member States and regional organizations undertaking measures in accordance with para. 6.

UNSC Resolution 2093 (2013) dated 6 March 2013 modified the arms embargo providing certain exemptions (paras. 33 to 38).

UNSC Resolution 2111 (2013) dated 24 July 2013 affirmed the arms embargo with certain exemptions (paras. 6, 7, 10 and 11).

UNSC Resolution 2385 (2017) dated 14 November 2017 decided to renew the provisions set out in paragraph 2 of resolution 2142  (2014) until 15 November 2018, and in that context reiterates that the arms embargo on Somalia shall not apply to deliveries of weapons, ammunition or military equipment or the provision of advice, assistance or training, intended solely for the development of the Somali National Security Forces, to provide security for the Somali people, except in relation to deliveries of the items set out in the annex of resolution 2111 (2013); 

Asset freeze

UNSC Resolution 1844 (2008) dated 20 November 2008 established an asset freeze, freezing of funds and economic resources, of designated individuals and entities (para. 3).

UNSC Resolution 1972 (2111) dated 17 March 2011 provided a temporary exemption to the asset freeze relating to humanitarian assistance programmes (para.4).

Charcoal ban

UNSC Resolution 2036 (2012) dated 22 February 2012 imposed an ban on the direct or indirect import of charcoal from Somalia, whether or not such charcoal originated in Somalia (para.22).

Travel ban

UNSC Resolution 1844 (2008) dated 20 November 2008 set out a travel ban on designated entities (para. 1) with certain exemptions (para. 2).

UNSC Resolution 733 (1992) dated 23 January 1992 imposed a general and complete arms embargo on all deliveries of weapons and military equipment to Somalia.

UNSC Resolution 751 (1992) dated 24 April 1992 set up a Security Council sanctions committee.

UNSC Resolution 1356 (2001) dated 19 June 2001 provided exemption to the arms embargo for (i)  protective clothing, including flak jackets and military helmets, temporarily exported to Somalia by United Nations personnel, representatives of the media and humanitarian and development workers and associated personnel for their personal use only and (ii) supplies of non-lethal military equipment intended solely for humanitarian or protective use, as approved in advance by the sanctions committee.

UNSC Resolution 1425 (2002) dated 22 July 2002 elaborated on the arms embargo by stressing that it prohibits financing of all acquisitions and deliveries of weapons and military equipment; and that the direct or indirect supply to Somalia of technical advice, financial and other assistance, and training related to military activities.

UNSC Resolution 1725 (2006) dated 6 December 2006, UNSC Resolution 1744 (2007) dated 21 February 2007 and  UNSC Resolution 1772 (2007) dated 20 August 2007 provided exemption to the arms embargo for the supplies of weapons and military equipment, technical training and assistance intended solely for the support of or use by the African Union mission.

UNSC Resolution 1844 (2008) dated 20 November 2008 set out an asset freeze and travel ban on designated entities.

UNSC Resolution 1846 (2008) dated 2 December 2008 called upon States and interested organizations, including the IMO, to provide technical assistance to Somalia and nearby coastal States upon their request to enhance the capacity of these States to ensure coastal and maritime security, including combating piracy and armed robbery at sea off the Somali and nearby coastlines. In this context the embargo does not apply to supplies of technical assistance to Somalia solely for such purposes which have been exempted from those measures in accordance with the procedure set in Resolution 1772.

UNSC Resolution 1851 (2008) dated 16 December 2008 affirmed that the arms embargo shall not apply to weapons and military equipment destined for the sole use of Member States and regional organizations undertaking measures in accordance with para. 6.

UNSC Resolution 2036 (2012) dated 22 February 2012 imposed an ban on the direct or indirect import of charcoal from Somalia, whether or not such charcoal originated in Somalia (para.22).

UNSC Resolution 2111 (2013) dated 24 July 2013 affirmed that the arms embargo with certain exemptions as listed under para. 6, 7 and 10.

UNSC Resolution 733 (1992) dated 23 January 1992 imposed a general and complete arms embargo on all deliveries of weapons and military equipment to Somalia.

UNSC Resolution 751 (1992) dated 24 April 1992 set up a Security Council sanctions committee.

UNSC Resolution 1356 (2001) dated 19 June 2001 provided exemption to the arms embargo for (i)  protective clothing, including flak jackets and military helmets, temporarily exported to Somalia by United Nations personnel, representatives of the media and humanitarian and development workers and associated personnel for their personal use only and (ii) supplies of non-lethal military equipment intended solely for humanitarian or protective use, as approved in advance by the sanctions committee.

UNSC Resolution 1425 (2002) dated 22 July 2002 elaborated on the arms embargo by stressing that it prohibits financing of all acquisitions and deliveries of weapons and military equipment; and that the direct or indirect supply to Somalia of technical advice, financial and other assistance, and training related to military activities.

UNSC Resolution 1725 (2006) dated 6 December 2006, UNSC Resolution 1744 (2007) dated 21 February 2007 and  UNSC Resolution 1772 (2007) dated 20 August 2007 provided exemption to the arms embargo for the supplies of weapons and military equipment, technical training and assistance intended solely for the support of or use by the African Union mission.

UNSC Resolution 1844 (2008) dated 20 November 2008 set out an asset freeze and travel ban on designated entities.

UNSC Resolution 1846 (2008) dated 2 December 2008 called upon States and interested organizations, including the IMO, to provide technical assistance to Somalia and nearby coastal States upon their request to enhance the capacity of these States to ensure coastal and maritime security, including combating piracy and armed robbery at sea off the Somali and nearby coastlines. In this context the embargo does not apply to supplies of technical assistance to Somalia solely for such purposes which have been exempted from those measures in accordance with the procedure set in Resolution 1772.

UNSC Resolution 1851 (2008) dated 16 December 2008 affirmed that the arms embargo shall not apply to weapons and military equipment destined for the sole use of Member States and regional organizations undertaking measures in accordance with para. 6.

UNSC Resolution 2036 (2012) dated 22 February 2012 imposed an ban on the direct or indirect import of charcoal from Somalia, whether or not such charcoal originated in Somalia (para.22).

UNSC Resolution 2111 (2013) dated 24 July 2013 affirmed that the arms embargo with certain exemptions as listed under para. 6, 7 and 10.

UNSC Resolution 733 (1992) dated 23 January 1992 imposed a general and complete arms embargo on all deliveries of weapons and military equipment to Somalia.

UNSC Resolution 751 (1992) dated 24 April 1992 set up a Security Council sanctions committee.

UNSC Resolution 1356 (2001) dated 19 June 2001 provided exemption to the arms embargo for (i)  protective clothing, including flak jackets and military helmets, temporarily exported to Somalia by United Nations personnel, representatives of the media and humanitarian and development workers and associated personnel for their personal use only and (ii) supplies of non-lethal military equipment intended solely for humanitarian or protective use, as approved in advance by the sanctions committee.

UNSC Resolution 1425 (2002) dated 22 July 2002 elaborated on the arms embargo by stressing that it prohibits financing of all acquisitions and deliveries of weapons and military equipment; and that the direct or indirect supply to Somalia of technical advice, financial and other assistance, and training related to military activities.

UNSC Resolution 1725 (2006) dated 6 December 2006, UNSC Resolution 1744 (2007) dated 21 February 2007 and  UNSC Resolution 1772 (2007) dated 20 August 2007 provided exemption to the arms embargo for the supplies of weapons and military equipment, technical training and assistance intended solely for the support of or use by the African Union mission.

UNSC Resolution 1844 (2008) dated 20 November 2008 set out an asset freeze and travel ban on designated entities.

UNSC Resolution 1846 (2008) dated 2 December 2008 called upon States and interested organizations, including the IMO, to provide technical assistance to Somalia and nearby coastal States upon their request to enhance the capacity of these States to ensure coastal and maritime security, including combating piracy and armed robbery at sea off the Somali and nearby coastlines. In this context the embargo does not apply to supplies of technical assistance to Somalia solely for such purposes which have been exempted from those measures in accordance with the procedure set in Resolution 1772.

UNSC Resolution 1851 (2008) dated 16 December 2008 affirmed that the arms embargo shall not apply to weapons and military equipment destined for the sole use of Member States and regional organizations undertaking measures in accordance with para. 6.

UNSC Resolution 2036 (2012) dated 22 February 2012 imposed an ban on the direct or indirect import of charcoal from Somalia, whether or not such charcoal originated in Somalia (para.22).

UNSC Resolution 2111 (2013) dated 24 July 2013 affirmed that the arms embargo with certain exemptions as listed under para. 6, 7 and 10.

 

European Union Regulations on Somalia

EU sanctions include:

  • Inspection of and prior information requirement on certain cargoes to and from Somalia 
  • Embargo on supplying arms and related material to certain persons and entities
  • Ban on provision of certain services to these persons and entities
  • Freezing of funds and economic resources of certain persons and entities
  • Restrictions on admission of certain natural persons 
  • Import ban on wood charcoal and certain related services

 

Council Regulation (EU) No 356/2010 dated 26 April 2010 imposed certain specific restrictive measures directed against certain natural or legal persons, entities or bodies, in view of the situation in Somalia. Namely the freezing of funds and economic resources of certain persons and entities and the ban on provision of certain services to these persons and entities

The list of person and entities were amended by: 

  • Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 956/2011 dated 26 September 2011
  • Council Regulation (EU) No 641/2012 dated 16 July 2012
  • Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 943/2012 dated 15 October 2012
  • Council Regulation (EU) No 432/2013 dated 13 May 2013

Council Regulation (EC) No 147/2003 dated 27 January 2003 implemented a general ban on the provision of financing, financial assistance, technical advice, assistance or training related to military activities to any person, entity or body in Somalia.

This Regulation has been subsequently amended by:

Council Regulation (EC) No 631/2007 dated 7 June 2007 amending the exceptions to arms embargo related services in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1744 (2007).

Council Regulation (EU) No 1137/2010 dated 7 December 2010 which provides for the inspection of certain cargoes to and from Somalia and, in the case of vessels, for the supply of additional pre-arrival and pre-departure information in respect of goods brought into or out of the EU. That information must be provided in accordance with the provisions on entry and exit summary declarations of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 of 12 October 1992 establishing the Community Customs Code ( 3 ).) 

Council Regulation (EU) No 642/2012 dated 16 July 2012 introduced an import ban on wood charcoal and the provision of certain related services as from 22 February 2012.

Council Regulation (EU) No 941/2012 dated 15 October 2012 amending the exceptions to arms embargo related services in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2060 (2012).

Council Regulation (EU) No 431/2013 dated 13 May 2013 amending the exceptions to arms embargo related services in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2003 (2013).

Council Regulation (EC) No 1153/2013 dated 15 November 2013 amending the exceptions to arms embargo related services in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2111 (2013).

Council Regulation (EC) No 478/2014 dated 12 May 2014 amending the exceptions to arms embargo related services in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2142 (2014).

Trading restrictions (Somalia)

Trading restrictions imposed against Somalia

Trading restrictions imposed by Somalia

  • Arab League Boycott of Israel: Somalia's Position
    Whilst no recent information has been received it is understood that Somalia fully adheres to the Arab League's boycott of Israel (I.e. primary, secondary and tertiary boycotts).

 

Restrictions & sanctions (Somalia)

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