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Sub Saharan Africa

Somalia

 Flag of Somalia

Map of Somalia Last reviewed: 21 May 2009

Country information

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Ethiopian relations with Somalia are fragile. Ethiopia has a large Somali population (Region V) and still harbours memories of Somalia's occupation of the Ogaden in 1977/78. Ethiopia has played an active part in the IGAD led peace process in Somalia but several Somali factions view Ethiopia’s engagement with deep suspicion. Ethiopia’s relations with the Somalis were greatly complicated when the former deployed troops to defeat the ICU. Kenya, also with a significant Somali population and host to the reconciliation process, is looked upon by Somalis with much less suspicion, despite occasional border incursions by warring Somali clans.

African Union website

Arab League website

Sanctions

UN Security Council resolution 733 (1992) imposed an arms embargo on Somalia. The United Nations Arms Embargoes (Liberia, Somalia and the Former Yugoslavia) Order of 1993 sets out the licensing requirements in the UK for all acts associated with the sale or supply of arms to Somalia. Corresponding Orders exist for the Dependent Territories and Crown Dependencies.

Unfortunately, the UN arms embargo has been widely flouted. Since 2002 the Security Council has authorised an Expert Panel - subsequently a Monitoring Group - to investigate violations of the embargo. They report six monthly to the Security Council. There is a developing debate whether the embargo should be selectively lifted in order to allow security sector reform in the TFIs.


UN Security Council reports

Somalia's Relations with the UK

Diplomatic Representation

Since the fall of the Siad Barre regime in 1991 there have been no formal diplomatic links between the UK and Somalia.

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