MOGADISHU (SD) – Geraldine Byrne Nason, permanent representative of Ireland to the United Nations has called on United Nations Security Council to renew sanctions on three al-Shabaab ring leaders.

Nason who is also chair of the Security Council Committee pursuant to Resolution 751 (1992) concerning Somalia said the move to further help the federal government of Somalia fight the insurgents.

“While it is too early to see the impact of these listings, an updated sanctions list can be a significant tool in supporting the federal government of Somalia in its fight against Al-Shabaab,” said Nason.

She said, the acting coordinator of the panel, who was appointed following the resignation of the coordinator on April 27, 2021, highlighted four key areas of the panel’s midterm update — the continued threat posed by Al-Shabaab, including the use of improvised explosive devices; violations of international humanitarian law; ongoing investigations into the group’s finances; the management of weapons and ammunition by the federal government; and the ban on the export of charcoal from the country.

Nason also noted that the committee received the comprehensive midterm update of the panel of experts on Somalia on May 14 and discussed the content at a second informal virtual meeting on June 4.

Al-Shabaab, a terror group which is an al-Qaeda affiliate has been fighting topple Somali government since 2006.

The group once controlled large swath territories in south and central Somalia.

With the support of troops contributed by African countries, Somali military had succeeded to liberate Somali capital from al-Shabaab following days long fighting.