The Security Council has renewed the measures granted to States and regional organizations cooperating with authorities in Somalia in the fight against piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of that country for a further period of 12months.
Unanimously adopting Resolution2446(2015) and acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, the Council noted improvements in Somalia, but recognized that piracy exacerbated instability in Somalia by introducing large amounts of illicit cash that had fuelled additional crime and corruption. By the text, the Council stressed the need for the international community to take a comprehensive response to prevent and suppress piracy and tackle its underlying causes.
Underlining the primary responsibility of the Somali authorities in the fight against piracy, the Council welcomed the draft coast guard laws which the Somali authorities, with support from the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) Operation Atalanta and EUCAP Nestor, had submitted to Parliament.
The Council recognized the need to continue investigating and prosecuting those who planned, organized or illicitly financed or profited from pirate attacks and urged States to adopt legislation to facilitate the prosecution of suspected pirates off the coast of Somalia. It welcomed in that regard the initiative of Seychelles authorities to establish a court for piracy and maritime crime.
The Council also decided that the arms embargo on Somalia did not apply to supplies of weapons and military equipment or the provision of assistance destined for the sole use of Member States, international, regional and subregional organizations undertaken in the fight against piracy.
The full text of Resolution 2246 (2015) may be found at UN Security Council website
Source: UN Security Council / Image Credit: EUNAVFOR
