U.N. Clamps Down on Somalia Shebab 'Lifeline'

Despite reservations from Russia and Jordan, the U.N. Security Council on Friday authorized snap inspections off Somalia's coast of ships suspected of carrying charcoal sold by Shebab Islamists.

About a third of some $250 million in annual revenue from the charcoal trade flows directly to the coffers of the al-Qaida-linked Shebab fighting the Mogadishu government, according to a U.N. monitoring group.

The British-drafted resolution was approved by 13 of the 15 members of the Council, with Jordan and Russia abstaining, but not opposing, the measure intended to tighten an embargo on the charcoal trade.

Jordan argued that the text allowing inspections in Somali territorial waters and on the high seas opened the door to abuses and could be used for political aims in the volatile Horn of Africa.

Russia questioned the findings of the monitoring group's report, with Ambassador Vitaly Churkin saying that the experts should not base their conclusions on "rash accusations." 

British Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant said the inspections were in line with a request from the Mogadishu government to choke off a major source of funding to the Shebab.

"Charcoal is giving al-Shebab a lifeline," the ambassador told the Council.

The U.N. monitoring group reported that despite the ban, charcoal exports continued to Gulf countries, including Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

The Security Council imposed a charcoal and arms embargo in 2012 and last year moved to partially lift the ban on weapons sold to the Mogadishu government to allow it to supply its forces in its fight against the Shebab.

The U.N. monitors however reported that some of the weapons sold to the Somali army fell into dubious hands including some shipments that were distributed to clans linked to the government.

Weapons sent to the national army and supposed to be used to defend the internationally backed government have been seen on open sale in at least one market where Shebab agents bought arms, the report said.

The resolution called on the Somali government to report on the storage, distribution and use of all of the weapons by March and again in September.

Somalia has been riven by civil war since 1991, but the government which took power last year was the first to be given global recognition since the conflict began.

Somali troops, backed by African Union forces, have managed to beat back the Shebab, which claimed responsibility for last year's attack on the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi.