UN asked to lift arms embargoBy: Yusuf M Hasan

HARGEISA (Somalilandsun) – The government of Somaliland has said the inclusion of the country in the UN arms embargo for Somalia is detrimental to national security.

According to UN /AU special representative for Somalia/Somaliland Ambassador Augustine Mahiga the appeal by made by president Silanyo during a meeting at the Hargeisa based presidency.

President Silanyo told the ambassador that the continued embargo should be lifted on Somaliland thus enable the country acquire necessary weaponry to counter threats from the Al-shabaab terrorist group. The present said that following the ongoing onslaught on Al-shabaab by various forces in the south the group has transferred its main base to the Golis Mountains in the country.

Ambassador Mahiga said that the appeal by Somaliland comes at an appropriate time and in lieu of the country's good security standing, the UN security ought to act sooner rather than later. Somaliland has been under the arms embargo placed on Somalia by the UNSC for over a decade and a half thus the dependence on pre-civil war weaponry captured from Siyad Barre forces.

Thought the country boosts of a well disciplined and trained military the lack of weaponry is a continued detriment in the continued war on terror.