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Africa Horn
Corrupt Somali leaders face fresh UN sanctions
2011-09-21
That the people of Somalia haven't yet been turned into pillars of salt means only that God hasn't asked us to find any honest Somali leaders...
God doesn't ask the impossible, knowing the limits of His creatures.
Though pillars of salt does have a certain élan...
Not to mention some measure of value...
NAIROBI: Corrupt Somali politicians could face travel bans and have their foreign assets frozen under tough new United Nations sanctions, a UN official said Tuesday, a move that analysts said could also help get desperately needed food aid to the country's growing number of famine victims.

A team of eight investigators is due to begin work this week. It's the first time senior Somali politicians could face consequences for corruption in the 20 years since the country dissolved into civil war. The country's justice system has virtually stopped functioning and there has been no system to hold politicians in the famine-struck Horn of Africa nation to account.

"Corruption has been identified as one of the main obstacles to the peace process," said Matt Bryden, who heads the UN arms monitoring group on Somalia, which provides an annual report to the UN Security Council. "This sends a clear signal that corruption and political obstruction will no longer be tolerated."

The monitoring group was set up 10 years after an arms embargo was imposed on Somalia in 1992, when hundreds of thousands were dying from famine and the country was in the grip of a clan-based civil war. The group's mandate was to report anyone selling weapons to fuel the conflict. In 2008, the UN decided it should be able to punish violators by imposing sanctions that include travel bans and freezes on assets such as bank accounts and property.

The list of possible sanctions was expanded the same year to include anyone obstructing access to humanitarian aid. That's a huge problem in Somalia, where militant groups have denied many aid agencies access to territory they control and militias in areas controlled by the UN-backed government steal and sell food.

In July, the sanctions mandate was expanded again to include corruption and those blocking the peace process. The new mandate came at the same month famine was declared in parts of the country.

Now, Bryden said, anyone could be sanctioned for threatening peace and security or for blocking or stealing humanitarian aid or government funds.

"Our investigations will help the sanctions committee ensure that violators are held accountable," he said. "These sanctions are most effective against those with an international profile -- those with foreign passports, with foreign bank accounts, and those who travel."
Boy howdy, UN sanctions. They'll have the place turned around in no time. Wonder if the mighty Uruguayans are going to help?
Posted by:Steve White

#1  How about if they investigate some of our politicians?
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305   2011-09-21 11:27  

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