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In an effort to tighten the arms sanctions against Somalia, the UN Security Council has approved the establishment of a panel to gather information on violations of the 10-year-old embargo.
In a resolution unanimously adopted on 22 July, the Council asked UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to set up a "three-person panel within one month". The panel will be based in Nairobi and operate from there for a period of six months.
Under this resolution, the panel will "pursue all relevant sources, including states, international law enforcement bodies, nongovernmental organisations (NGOs), financial institutions and the business community".
The Security Council resolution also instructed the panel to carry out field research in Somalia and other states, "including through a review of national customs and border control regimes, and to recommend measures to strengthen the weapons ban".
The group should also have expertise in armament and its financing, civil aviation, maritime transport and regional affairs.
The Council requested that individuals, entities and states contacted by the panel furnish all available information on arms violations. It said countries should assist with visits and provide full access to government officials and records. The panel is expected to submit a final report at the end of its mandate.
The arms embargo against Somalia was established by a UN resolution in 1992.
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