By RFPosted on 30-08-2019Modified on 30-08-2019 at 00:00

The UN Security Council on Wednesday (August 28th) rejected a proposal by Kenya to place the Shebabs under the same sanctions regime as the Islamic State and al-Qaeda.

The decision may seem surprising. Resolution 1267 aims to fight against terrorism and therefore seems appropriate to the case of Shebabs in Somalia. But the Security Council finally followed the recommendations of many diplomats in the region and representatives of NGOs who were worried about the consequences that this measure.

Applied to the shebabs , this resolution would have had catastrophic consequences, explain the NGOs. It would have canceled Somalia's humanitarian exemption, which allows charities to work in areas controlled by the Shebabs, without the risk of being accused of indirectly supporting or financing the terrorist group.

More humanitarian aid than ever needed

It must be said that in the south of the country, terrorists are still present on large parts of the territory. They levy taxes and erect roadblocks. Misappropriation of humanitarian aid is therefore frequent. Despite this, NGOs and former diplomats in the region ensure that this aid is now more necessary than ever. In a letter sent earlier this month to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , they called on the United States to oppose the Kenyan proposal that could have " put hundreds of thousands of lives at risk " by limiting the 'humanitarian aid.

Their appeal has in any case been heard. On Wednesday, no less than six countries, including the United States and France, opposed the new sanctions regime proposed by Kenya. A result hailed by Mogadishu, while 4 million Somalis today need humanitarian aid and among them, one million children suffer from malnutrition.

Since 1992, there have been at least 37 resolutions that have been taken on Somalia. With respect to shebabs, there are sanctions that are already in place and that are sufficient. Including that of 1992, which limits any material financing to terrorist groups, especially the Shebabs.

Abdurahman Sharif, diplomatic advisor to the Somali Prime Minister Hassan Al Khayre

29-08-2019 - By Laure Broulard

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