The Reporter (Addis Ababa)
18 November 2006
Ever since the UN imposed an arms embargo on Somalia in January 1992, the different factions in the war-torn country have continuously managed to violate the restriction.
Having defeated several of the warlords, the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) has evolved as a "pre-eminent force" in central and Southern Somalia and is contending for power against a weak Transition Federal Government (TFG).
A UN panel of experts now says, in an alarming and detailed manner, that the condition in Somalia is deteriorating due to what it termed an "unbridled military build-up."
The panel of weapons and financial experts mainly points to ten countries and some militant groups as having violated the embargo by alarmingly supplying weapons to the two antagonist groups.
The arms transfer is being conduct by air, sea and land.
Arms and support for the ICU
According to the report there has been a rapid transition in Somalia over the past five months. It adds that the opposition alliance formerly based in Mogadishu no longer existed, and that the Islamic Courts Union has become the main force in Somalia's central and southern regions.
"The majority of arms provided to the ICU by states - seven of them - and arms traders, include the types that are typically used in Somalia. But, ominously, new and more sophisticated types of weapons are also coming into Somalia, including man-portable surface-to-air missiles such as the Strela-2 and 2m, also known as SA-7a and 7b "Grail", and the SA-6 "Gainful" low to medium altitude surface-to-air missile. Other new types of arms include multiple rocket launchers and second generation infrared-guided anti-tank weapons," the report to the Security Council disclosed.
In providing arms and support to the ICU, the five-man panel in an 84 page- document accuses Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Islamic Republic of Iran, Libya Arab Jamahiriya, Saudi Arabia and the Syrian Arab Republic. At the same time it shows the involvement of Yemeni arms traders, the Hezbollah and members of Egypt's Islamic Brotherhood and Afghan Jihad fighters in Somalia.
Djibouti
A Djibouti airliner flew into Somalia carrying cargo that was disguised as being from the Red Crescent society of Djibouti. The July 30, 2006 shipment, according to the monitoring group contained military uniform and medicines.
Eritrea
Since April, according to the monitoring group, Eritrea supplied the ICU with at least 28 consignments of arms, ammunitions and military equipment. In addition to providing training (both within Somalia and in Eritrea), its troops also took part in battles between the TFG and the ICU, particularly in the operation that saw Kismayo fall to the Islamic courts' fighters.
Eritrea's support for the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF)
The monitoring group also indicates that Eritrea has been arming and supporting Ethiopian rebel groups via the ICU of Somalia.
Their report details: "On 8 July 2006 a shipment of arms transported by camels and donkeys, and under the escort of 70 members of ICU along with 160 ONLF fighters, entered Ethiopia through the Abudwaq district, Galagaduud region, Somalia. The shipment consisted of the following: explosives- 6 boxes; shoulder-fired anti tank weapons- 6 units; PKM machine guns- 22 units; AK-47 assault rifles-120 units; FAL assault rifles- 40 units; and hand grenades- 6 boxes."
Mysterious Ilyushin 76 and a B-707 air craft
On July 26 and 28 and again on August 7 2006, a mysterious Ilyushin 76 with Kazakhstan flag on its tail and using the code UN - for the same country - lands in Mogadishu.
The monitoring group in its report now says it has determined from Aerolift, that it belongs to an Eritrean company known as Erico Enterprises.
Also on October 8 and 10 2006 a B-707 flew from Massawa, Eritrea to Mogadishu.
The aircraft bore a Ugandan registration and used a call sign MHU of Sky Jet Aviations which is based in Kampala.
Chairman of Sky Jet Aviations furnished a document to the arms embargo violation group that the plane had been smuggled out of Egypt on July 5 and flown to Asmara.
The B-707 was operated by Euro Oceanic Air Transport, a company based in Bahrain.
Egypt
Egypt's senior military officers are also mentioned as taking part in providing training to some 3,800 ICU fighters in the Hileweyne military camp located north of Mogadishu.
On July 26 2006, a dhow from Saudi Arabia carrying food items from Saudi Arabia stopped in Eritrea and picked a shipment of arms. Also on board the dhow was a retired senior Egyptian military officer. The man who posed as the dhow driver, according to the monitoring group, is also a member of AL-Ikhwan Al-Muslimun (Muslim Brotherhood).
Libya Arab Jamahiriya
"The government of Libya has sent military aircraft to Somalia and has provided training, funds and at least one consignment of arms in support of the ICU," the report disclosed.
In addition to Libyan officers providing training alongside the Egyptians and Eritreans, the government of Libya has provided $1 million for future military trainings and for troop salaries ranging from $75 to $450.
Saudi Arabia
The Saudi government is also accused of violating the arms embargo in Somalia by providing foodstuffs and medicine in support of the ICU.
Syria and Hezbollah
Aside from providing armament such as the AK-47, RPG2 and RPG7 the Syrian Arab Republic violated the arms embargo by transporting some 200 fighters from the ICU to its territory for training.
The Hezbollah is also indicated to have been involved in Somalia in that it requested for fighters from the ICU during its war with Israel.
A strong military force of some 750 ICU fighters was sent to Lebanon to fight alongside Hezbollah in mid July 2006.
In return, the fighters and their families were offered incentives ranging from $100 to $30,000.
Islamic Republic of Iran
In three separate consignments, the monitoring group says, Iran provided PKM machine guns, M-79 grenade launchers, shoulder fired surface-to-air missiles and unknown quantity of land mines.
Furthermore, it provided the ammunition for the above weapons, medical supplies and three medical doctors to the ICU.
Arms in return for Uranium
Two more shipments were due in Somalia from Iran, but apparently they never arrived when Iran asked for uranium from the ICU.
International nuclear officials estimate Somalia has only a modest reserve of 6,600 tons of uranium.
Yemen Arms Traders
In the report for the Security Council Yemeni arms traders are also mentioned as having supplied weapons to both sides including to the Puntland administration.
Arms and Support to the TFG
The report also mentions three other countries as having violated the arms embargo in Somalia in favor of the Transitional Federal government.
These were listed as Ethiopia, Uganda and Yemen.
Two of these, namely Ethiopia and Uganda are also accused of providing arms and contingents of troops to the weak transitional government which has not been able to assert its authority beyond Baidowa.
Ethiopia
The immediate neighbor to Somalia has, according to the report, supplied Abdullahi Yusuf with troops mainly to protect the president and also to train his army.
It is also accused of providing arms to the transitional government, recruiting new militia members and setting up training camps within Somalia.
Ethiopia has within Somalia some 40 armored vehicles, 30 technicals (pick up trucks mounted with machine guns) of which ten are armed with ZU-23-4 or ZP 39 anti-aircraft guns, said the monitoring group.
Ethiopia's support for Puntland, Somali clans and former members of opposition alliance
The report also disclosed that Ethiopia had supplied AK-47 assault rifles, PKM and RPG, ammunition and land mines to the government of Puntland, various Somali clans and former members of the opposition alliance who were defeated by the ICU in Mogadishu.
Uganda
Uganda was also accused of having supplied fully armed troops who arrived in Mogadishu with ammunition, tents, communication equipment, a forklift and fencing material. The Ugandans are also reported to have brought with them the barrels of 80 anti-aircraft guns whose remaining parts were later airlifted from Uganda to Ethiopia and then transported by land to Baidowa.
Yemen
The UN monitors also accused Yemen of having supplied 12 shipments of arms within 7 days.
Yemen, the monitors said provided ammunition for AK-47 rifles, RPG, PKM machine gun, M-79 grenade launcher and a portable jeep gun.
The report adds that ZPU heavy machine gun; ZP-39 and ZU-23 anti aircraft gun, M-40 recoilless anti tank rifle, M-79 grenade launcher, and SG-43 heavy machine gun were among the 12 shipments that arrived in Baidowa from 9 to 24 June.
As was the case for Ethiopia, Yemen was also accused of violating the embargo by supplying arms to Puntland.
The Bakaraaha Arms Market (BAM)
Previously, the Bakaraaha used to be the main source of arms for the warlords in central and southern Somalia. Following their defeat by the ICU however, the amount of arms coming through the once thriving enterprise have declined and the price of weapons at the market had also gone down.
"However," the monitoring group said, "during the last half of the current mandate, arms sales at BAM have been on the rise. The buyers making the most significant purchase at the time of writing the present report are some former Mogadishu-based warlords and Sharia Courts. Different Sharia Courts continue to buy arms at the market. The courts that are purchasing the arms are reportedly in a friendly competition with one another to see which court can accrue the most lethal and otherwise impressive inventory of arms."
Response by countries in question to inquiries by the monitoring group
All countries denied having violated the arms embargo.
Reactions so far
ICU
The ICU on its part called the monitoring group's report a baseless propaganda.
The Supreme leader of the Islamic Courts Union, Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys, speaking with Reuters said: "The UN report is baseless propaganda collected by people who want to inflict harm on Islamic Courts success in Somalia."
Iran
"The Islamic Republic of Iran has not shipped any arms to Somalia; such reports are in line with wishes of hostile enemies and are fabricated by the powers that provoke war and bloodshed by shipping arms and ammunition to the country," said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini on Wednesday.
Syria
"The published reports are completely without foundation, whatever their source," a Syrian official is quoted by the Syrian News Agency.
UN
"An already difficult and volatile situation could be further complicated by neighboring countries rushing in with troops or guns to support one side or the other," UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said.
"It will only compound the problem, so I would urge them to stay out," he told reporters in Kenya.
US
US States Department Spokesperson Gonzalo Gallegos said Washington was still reviewing the UN report and declined to comment on its contents. But he said the United States has "long-standing concerns regarding the destabilizing actions of countries such as Eritrea, which has supported the continued military expansion of the Islamic courts".
"The US urges all of Somalia's neighbors to avoid action that might further destabilize the situation," he added.
"Both sides must demonstrate their commitment to peace and stability through continued dialogue and not force of arms."
Hezbollah
Hezbollah's senior political officer in southern Lebanon called the report baseless.
"It's an absurd report that does not warrant a comment," Sheik Hassan Ezzeddine said.
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