Security Council resolution 2244 (2015) [on extension of the mandate of the Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea until 15 Dec. 2016]
Symbol: S/RES/2244 (2015)
Date: 2015-10-23
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/70 [84] SOMALIA SITUATION
S/70 [151] ERITREA--POLITICAL CONDITIONS
Subjects: UN. Monitoring Group Established pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1519 (2003) and 1907 (2009)|African Union Mission in Somalia|Somalia. National Army|Charter of the United Nations (1945). Chapter VII|INTERNAL SECURITY|HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE|ARMS EMBARGO|SANCTIONS|FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT|SOMALIA|ERITREA|CHARCOAL
Votes in favour: 14
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 1
Voting record:
country: ANGOLA
vote: yes
country: CHAD
vote: yes
country: CHILE
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: JORDAN
vote: yes
country: LITHUANIA
vote: yes
country: MALAYSIA
vote: yes
country: NEW ZEALAND
vote: yes
country: NIGERIA
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SPAIN
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes
country: VENEZUELA (BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF)
vote: abstention

               United Nations                                                                  S/RES/2244 (2015)
               Security Council                                                Distr.: General
                                                                               23 October 2015




               Resolution 2244 (2015)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 7541st meeting, on
               23 October 2015

                    The Security Council,
                     Recalling all its previous resolutions and statements of its President on the
               situation in Somalia and Eritrea, in particular resolutions 733 (1992), 1844 (2008),
               1907 (2009), 2036 (2012), 2023 (2011), 2093 (2013), 2111 (2013), 2124 (2013),
               2125 (2013), 2142 (2014), and 2182 (2014),
                    Taking note of the final reports of the Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group
               (the SEMG) (on Somalia (S/2015801) and Eritrea (S/2015/802)) and their
               conclusions on the situations in both Somalia and Eritrea,
                    Reaffirming its respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political
               independence and unity of Somalia, Djibouti and Eritrea respectively,
                     Condemning any flows of weapons and ammunition supplies to and through
               Somalia in violation of the arms embargo on Somalia and to Eritrea in violation of
               the arms embargo on Eritrea, as a serious threat to peace and stability in the region,
                    Expressing concern that Al-Shabaab continues to pose a serious threat to the
               peace and stability of Somalia and the region,
                    Welcoming the improved relationship between the Federal Government of
               Somalia (FGS) and the SEMG, and underlining the importance of this relationship
               improving further and strengthening in the future,
                     Welcoming the efforts of the FGS to improve its notifications to the Committee
               pursuant to resolutions 751 (1992) and 1907 (2009) concerning Somalia and Eritrea
               (“the Committee”), and looking forward to further needed progress in the future,
               particularly in relation to post-delivery notifications, and recalling that improved
               arms and ammunition management in Somalia is a fundamental component of
               greater peace and stability for the region,
                     Underlining the importance of financial propriety in the run up to, and conduct
               of, elections in Somalia in 2016, and stressing the need for further efforts to fight
               corruption, promote transparency and increase mutual accountability in Somalia,
                   Expressing serious concern at reports of illegal fishing in waters where
               Somalia has jurisdiction, underlining the importance of refraining from illegal


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               fishing, and encouraging the FGS, with the support of the international community,
               to ensure that fishing licenses are issued in a responsible manner and in li ne with
               the appropriate Somali legal framework,
                     Expressing serious concern at the increasing difficulties in delivering
               humanitarian aid in Somalia, condemning in the strongest terms any party
               obstructing the delivery of humanitarian assistance, as well a s the misappropriation
               or diversion of any humanitarian funds,
                    Recalling that the FGS has the primary responsibility to protect its population,
               and recognising the FGS’ responsibility to build its own national security forces,
                     Taking note of the two videoconference meetings and three letters between the
               representative of the Government of Eritrea and the SEMG, expressing concern that
               the SEMG has not been able to visit Eritrea since 2011 and fully discharge its
               mandate urging the Government of Eritrea to deepen its cooperation with the
               SEMG, including through regular visits to Eritrea by the SEMG, and underlining
               that deepened cooperation will help the Security Council be better informed about
               Eritrea’s compliance with the relevant Security Council resolut ions,
                    Taking note that during the course of its current and previous mandate the
               SEMG has not found any evidence that the Government of Eritrea is supporting
               Al-Shabaab,
                     Expressing concern over reports by the SEMG of ongoing Eritrean support for
               certain regional armed groups, and encouraging the SEMG to provide further
               detailed reporting and evidence on this issue,
                     Underlining the importance it attaches to all Member States complying with
               the terms of the arms embargo imposed on Eritrea by resolution 1907 (2009),
                     Stressing its demand that Eritrea make available information, including to the
               SEMG, pertaining to the Djiboutian combatants missing in action since the clashes
               of 2008 so that those concerned may ascertain the presence and conditions of the
               Djiboutian prisoners of war, and expressing its hope that the mediation efforts of the
               State of Qatar helps lead to the resolution of this issue as well as the border dispute
               between Djibouti and Eritrea,
                    Determining that the situation in Somalia, as well as the dispute between
               Djibouti and Eritrea, continues to constitute a threat to international peace and
               security in the region,
                    Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,
                     1.   Reaffirms the arms embargo on Somalia, imposed by paragraph 5 of
               resolution 733 (1992) and further elaborated upon in paragraphs 1 and 2 of
               resolution 1425 (2002) and modified by paragraphs 33 to 38 of resolution 2093
               (2013) and paragraphs 4 to 17 of resolution 2111 (2013), paragraph 14 of resolution
               2125 (2013), and paragraph 2 of resolution 2142 (2014) (hereafter referred to as
               “the arms embargo on Somalia”);
                    2.    Decides to renew the provisions set out in paragraph 2 of resolution 2142
               (2014) until 15 November 2016, 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 Security Forces of the FGS, to provide security for the Somali


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           people, except in relation to deliveries of the items set out in the annex of resolution
           2111 (2013);
                 3.   Affirms that the entry into Somali ports for temporary visits of vessels
           carrying arms and related materiel for defensive purposes does not amount to a
           delivery of such items in violation of the arms embargo on Somalia, provided that
           such items remain at all times aboard such vessels;
                 4.    Requests the Committee, within 90 days of adoption of this resolution, t o
           publish an implementation assistance notice summarising the arms embargo
           restrictions in place for Somalia and Eritrea, as well as outlining exemptions to the
           arms embargo;
                 5.    Reiterates that weapons or military equipment sold or supplied solely for
           the development of the Security Forces of the Federal Government of Somalia may
           not be resold to, transferred to, or made available for use by, any individual or entity
           not in the service of the Security Forces of the Federal Government of Somalia, and
           underlines the responsibility of the Federal Government of Somalia to ensure the
           safe and effective management, storage and security of their stockpiles;
                 6.   Welcomes in this regard the commencement, by the FGS, of a more
           rigorous weapons registration, recording and marking procedure, expresses concern
           at reports of continued weapons diversion from within the FGS, notes that further
           improved weapons management is vital in order to prevent the diversion of
           weapons, calls upon the FGS to conduct a baseline inventory of military equipment,
           arms and ammunition in the possession of the security forces of the FGS, assessed
           against their respective strength and needs, and urges Member States to support
           improved weapons and ammunition management and the establishment of a ‘Joint
           Verification Team’ to improve the capacity of the FGS to manage weapons and
           ammunition;
                 7.    Requests the FGS to report to the Security Council by 15 April 2016 and
           then by 15 October 2016 in accordance with paragraph 9 of resolution 2182 (2014),
           and calls on the FGS to include more information in its reporting, including through
           the provision of full and accurate information on the structure, composition,
           strength and disposition of its security forces, including the status of regional and
           militia forces;
                 8.    Recalls that the Federal Government of Somalia has the primary
           responsibility to notify the Committee, pursuant to paragraphs 3 to 8 of resolution
           2142 (2014), welcomes the efforts of the FGS in improving its notifications to the
           Committee, and calls upon the FGS to improve the timeliness and content of
           notifications regarding the completion of deliveries, as set out in paragraph 6 or
           resolution 2142 (2014) and the destination unit upon distribution of imported arms
           and ammunition, as set out by paragraph 7 of resolution 2142 (2014);
                 9.    Underlines the importance of Member States coordinating with the
           Office of the National Security Adviser of Somalia, which coordinates FGS
           reporting obligations to the Security Council pursuant to the notification procedures
           set out in paragraphs 3 to 7 of resolution 2142 (2014), and underlines the need for
           Member States to strictly follow the notification procedures for providing assistance
           to develop Somali security sector institutions;




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                     10. Urges cooperation between AMISOM and the Somali National Army
               (SNA), as set out in paragraph 6 of resolution 2182 (2014), to document and register
               all military equipment captured as part of offensive operations or in the course of
               carrying out their mandates, involving other Security Forces of the Federal
               Government of Somalia as appropriate;
                     11. Calls upon the FGS to enhance civilian oversight of its security forces, in
               particular through investigation and prosecuting individuals responsible for
               violations of international humanitarian law, and in this context recalls the
               importance of the Secretary-General’s Human Rights and Due Diligence Policy in
               relation to the support provided by the UN to the Somali National Army;
                     12. Underlines the importance of timely and predictable payment of salaries
               to the Somali security forces and encourages the FGS to implement systems to
               improve the timeliness and accountability of payments to Somali security forces;
                     13. Further reaffirms the arms embargo on Eritrea imposed by paragraphs 5
               and 6 of resolution 1907 (2009) (hereafter referred to as “the arms embargo on
               Eritrea”);
                     14. Expresses concern at the continued reports of corruption and diversion of
               public resources which pose a risk to state-building efforts, expresses serious
               concern at reports of financial impropriety involving members of the Federal
               Government, Regional Administrations and Federal Parliament, which pose a risk to
               state-building efforts, and in this context underlines that individuals engaged in acts
               which threaten the peace and reconciliation process in Somalia may be listed for
               targeted measures;
                     15. Welcomes the efforts which the FGS has made in order to improve its
               financial management procedures including engagement between the FGS and the
               International Monetary Fund (IMF), and encourages prompt implementation of
               IMF-recommended reforms to support the commencement of a Staff Monitored
               Programme; the development of the Somali Financial Management Information
               System; and the forthcoming independent review of the Fin ancial Governance
               Committee;
                    16.   Reaffirms Somalia’s sovereignty over its natural resources;
                     17. Reiterates its serious concern that the petroleum sector in Somalia could
               be a driver for increased conflict, and in that context underlines the vital importance
               of the FGS putting in place, without undue delay, a resource -sharing arrangement
               and credible legal framework to ensure that the petroleum sector in Somalia does
               not become a source of increased tension;
                     18. Reaffirms the ban on the import and export of Somali charcoal, as set out
               in paragraph 22 of resolution 2036 (2012) (“the charcoal ban”), condemns the
               ongoing export of charcoal from Somalia, in violation of the total ban on the export
               of charcoal from Somalia, and reiterates that the Somali authorities shall take the
               necessary measures to prevent the export of charcoal from Somalia, and further
               reiterates its requests in paragraph 18 of resolution 2111 (2013), that AMISOM
               support and assist the Somali authorities in doing so, as part of AMISOM’s
               implementation of its mandate set out in paragraph 1 of resolution 2093;
                     19. Welcomes the efforts of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) in their
               efforts to disrupt the export and import of charcoal to and from Somalia, and further


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           welcomes the cooperation between the SEMG and CMF in keeping the Committee
           informed on the charcoal trade;
                 20. Expresses concern that the charcoal trade provides funding for
           Al-Shabaab, and in that context reiterates paragraphs 11 to 21 of resolution 2182
           (2014), and further decides to renew the provisions set out in paragraph 15 of
           resolution 2182 (2014) until 15 November 2016;
                 21. Encourages the UN Office on Drugs and Crime to continue its work,
           within its current mandate, under the Indian Ocean Forum on Maritime Crime to
           bring together relevant Member States and international organisations to develop
           strategies to disrupt the trade in Somali charcoal;
                 22. Expresses serious concern at the deterioration of the humanitarian
           situation in Somalia, condemns in the strongest terms increased attacks against
           humanitarian actors and any misuse of donor assistance and the obstruction of the
           delivery of humanitarian aid, and reiterates paragraph 10 of resolution 2158 (2014)
           in this regard;
                 23. Decides that until 15 November 2016 and without prejudice to
           humanitarian assistance programmes conducted elsewhere, the measures imposed
           by paragraph 3 of resolution 1844 (2008) shall not apply to the payment of funds,
           other financial assets or economic resources necessary to ensure the timely d elivery
           of urgently needed humanitarian assistance in Somalia, by the United Nations, its
           specialized agencies or programmes, humanitarian organizations having observer
           status with the United Nations General Assembly that provide humanitarian
           assistance, and their implementing partners including bilaterally or multilaterally
           funded NGOs participating in the United Nations Humanitarian Response Plan for
           Somalia;
                24. Requests the Emergency Relief Coordinator to report to the Security
           Council by 15 October 2016 on the delivery of humanitarian assistance in Somalia
           and on any impediments to the delivery of humanitarian assistance in Somalia, and
           requests relevant United Nations agencies and humanitarian organizations having
           observer status with the United Nations General Assembly and their implementing
           partners that provide humanitarian assistance in Somalia to increase their
           cooperation and willingness to share information with the United Nations;
                 25. Welcomes the SEMG’s ongoing and significant efforts to engage with the
           Government of Eritrea, in that context recalls the two meetings by video conference
           between the Representative of the Government of Eritrea and the SEMG, reiterates
           its expectation that the Government of Eritrea will facilitate the entry of the SEMG
           to Eritrea, to discharge fully its mandate, in line with its repeated requests, including
           in paragraph 52 of resolution 2182 (2014); and underlines that deepened
           cooperation will help the Security Council be better informed about Eritrea’s
           compliance with the relevant Security Council resolutions;
                 26. Calls on Eritrea to cooperate with the SEMG, including on public
           finance issues, in accordance with the SEMG’s mandate, in order to demonstrate
           that Eritrea is not violating the terms of relevant Security Council resolutions;
                 27. Urges the Government of Eritrea to allow access or provide information,
           including to the SEMG, on the Djiboutian prisoners of war missing in action since
           the clashes of 10 to 12 June 2008, and expresses its hope that the mediation efforts



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               led by the State of Qatar helps lead to the resolution of this issue and the dispute
               between Eritrea and Djibouti;
                     28. Recalls resolution 1844 (2008) which imposed targeted sanctions and
               resolutions 2002 (2011) and 2093 (2013) which expanded the listing criteria, and
               notes one of the listing criteria under resolution 1844 (2008) is engaging in acts that
               threaten the peace, security or stability of Somalia;
                    29. Reiterates its willingness to adopt targeted measures against individuals
               and entities on the basis of the above mentioned criteria;
                    30. Requests Member States to assist the Monitoring Group in their
               investigations, and reiterates that obstructing the investigations or work of the
               Monitoring Group is a criterion for listing under p aragraph 15 (e) of resolution 1907
               (2009);
                     31. Decides to extend until 15 December 2016 the mandate of the Somalia
               and Eritrea Monitoring Group as set out in paragraph 13 of resolution 2060 (2012)
               and updated in paragraph 41 of resolution 2093 (2013), expresses its intention to
               review the mandate and take appropriate action regarding the further extension no
               later than 15 November 2016, and requests the Secretary-General to take the
               necessary administrative measures as expeditiously as possible to re -establish the
               Monitoring Group, in consultation with the Committee, until 15 December 2016,
               drawing, as appropriate, on the expertise of the members of the Monitoring Group
               established pursuant to previous resolutions;
                     32. Requests the Monitoring Group to provide monthly updates to the
               Committee, and a comprehensive midterm update, as well as to submit, for the
               Security Council’s consideration, through the Committee, two final reports; one
               focusing on Somalia, the other on Eritrea by 15 October 2016, covering a ll the tasks
               set out in paragraph 13 of resolution 2060 (2012) and updated in paragraph 41 of
               resolution 2093 (2013) and paragraph 15 of resolution 2182 (2014);
                    33. Requests the Committee, in accordance with its mandate and in
               consultation with the Monitoring Group and other relevant United Nations entities
               to consider the recommendations contained in the reports of the Monitoring Group
               and recommend to the Council ways to improve the implementation of and
               compliance with the Somalia and Eritrea arms embargoes, the measures regarding
               the import and export of charcoal from Somalia, as well as implementation of the
               measures imposed by paragraphs 1, 3 and 7 of resolutions 1844 (2008) and
               paragraphs 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 13 of resolution 1907 (2009) in response t o
               continuing violations;
                    34.   Decides to remain seized of the matter.




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