Mogadishu, Somalia – Somalia’s National Security Advisor, Hussein Sheikh-Ali, held a high-level meeting with representatives from the United Nations Security Council Affairs Division and senior federal government officials to evaluate the impact of targeted sanctions and current counter-terrorism initiatives aimed at weakening the operational capacity of the terrorist group Al-Shabaab.
According to an official statement released after the meeting, the discussions focused on “assessing progress in weakening Al-Shabaab’s operational capacity through targeted sanctions and ongoing initiatives aimed at counter-terrorism efforts.” The meeting also examined ways to enhance the enforcement and monitoring mechanisms linked to UN-mandated sanctions, including financial restrictions, travel bans, and arms embargoes.
The talks come at a critical time as Somalia intensifies its multi-pronged offensive against Al-Shabaab, combining military operations with legal, financial, and community-based strategies.
Hussein Sheikh-Ali underscored the importance of international cooperation, stating that “sanctions are a vital tool when strategically applied to disrupt Al-Shabaab’s leadership, recruitment networks, and sources of financing.”
Officials from Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, and the Financial Reporting Centre also attended the meeting, highlighting a whole-of-government approach to counter-terrorism.
The United Nations has maintained a sanctions regime on Somalia since 1992, which has been periodically revised to address evolving threats, especially the persistent and deadly threat posed by Al-Shabaab. Recent Security Council resolutions have tightened scrutiny on individuals and entities providing support to the group.
The Somali government reiterated its commitment to working closely with international partners to enforce sanctions, combat terrorism financing, and advance national security reforms.
This meeting reflects ongoing efforts to align Somalia’s national counter-terrorism framework with global measures, as the country prepares for a full transition of security responsibilities from the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) to Somali security forces by the end of 2024.