UN Shoots Down Kenya's Proposal to Take Action on Al-Shabaab

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC), on Wednesday, reportedly rejected Kenya's proposal to list Somali based armed group, Alshabaab as a terrorist organization in resolution 1267 alongside ISIS and Al Qaeda.

Somalia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Abukar Dahir Osman applauded council members for rejecting what he termed as an unjustified move.

Humanitarian organizations had earlier warned that if the proposal was approved, the move would have left millions in drought-stricken Somalia without aid.

"Any measure that would impact the current provision of aid would have extremely serious and substantial implications.

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"A measure like this will have the effect of criminalising humanitarian aid," Eric Schwartz, president of Refugees International, told AFP.

Kenya wanted to tighten the screws on the jihadist group after several deadly attacks on its soil, and the sanctions policy it proposed would have removed the protection that they currently enjoy.

As it stands, UN agencies and humanitarian organisations are not a party to these sanctions.This means that they can deliver urgent aid without Al-Shabaab's interference when they venture into their territories in Somalia. 

Somalia instead wants Kenya to implement resolution 751 targeting the group that includes the ban on illegal charcoal trade in which is the lifeline of the group to finance its operations in the region.

The decision comes at a time when Kenya is at loggerheads with Somalia on several diplomatic fronts including a battle over its marine borders.

Kenya Defence Forces and Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) soldiers take part in a joint-patrol at a charcoal depository formerly under the control of Al Shabaab militants in Burgabo, south of Kismayu in Somalia December 14, 2011.
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