UN Security Council extends sanctions panel on Somalia’s Al-Shabaab

UN Security Council extends sanctions panel on Somalia’s Al-Shabaab
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The UN Security Council on Friday unanimously extended the mandate of the panel monitoring sanctions on Somalia-based Al-Shabaab, Anadolu Agency reported.

All 15 members voted in favor of the measure, which extends authorization for naval inspections to enforce an arms embargo on Somalia, as well as a ban on charcoal exports and controls on improvised explosive devices (IEDs), until Nov. 30, 2026.

Other sanctions measures, including travel bans, asset freezes and general arms embargoes, remain open-ended.

Al-Shabaab has been pursuing an insurgency against the Somali government for more than 16 years, frequently targeting security forces, officials and civilians.

Since late 2024, the Somali National Army and security forces in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland have stepped up air operations against Al-Shabaab in the south and central provinces, and ISIS (Daesh) in the northeastern Bari region, with support from international partners.

Last month, the government said 220 precision airstrikes had been conducted, killing 868 militants since February.