United Nations Security Council Resolution 1724

by the United Nations

Adopted by the Security Council at its 5575th meeting on 29 November 2006

The Security Council,

Reaffirming its previous resolutions and the statements of its President concerning the situation in Somalia, in particular resolution 733 (1992) of 23 January 1992, which established an embargo on all delivery of weapons and military equipment to Somalia (hereinafter referred to as the “arms embargo”), resolution 1519 (2003) of 16 December 2003, resolution 1558 (2004) of 17 August 2004, resolution 1587 (2005) of 15 March 2005, resolution 1630 (2005) of 14 October 2005, and resolution 1676 (2006) of 10 May 2006,

Reaffirming the importance of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and unity of Somalia,

Stressing the need for the Transitional Federal Institutions to continue working towards establishing effective national governance in Somalia,

Reiterating the urgent need for all Somali leaders to take tangible steps to continue political dialogue,

Commending the efforts of the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the League of Arab States for their continued support for national reconciliation in Somalia, and urging both the Transitional Federal Institutions and the Union of Islamic Courts to recommit to the principles of the 22 June 2006 Khartoum Declaration and the agreements made at the 2-4 September 2006 Khartoum meeting and to engage in the next round of talks without further delays,

Reiterating its strong support for the Special Representative of the Secretary-General,

Taking note of the report of the Monitoring Group dated 21 November 2006 (S/2006/913) submitted pursuant to paragraph 3 (i) of resolution 1676 (2006) and the observations and recommendations contained therein,

Condemning the significant increase in the flow of weapons and ammunition supplies to and through Somalia, which constitutes a violation of the arms embargo and a serious threat to peace and stability in Somalia,

Reiterating its insistence that all Member States, in particular those in the region, should refrain from any action in contravention of the arms embargo and should take all necessary steps to hold violators accountable,

Reiterating and underscoring the importance of enhancing the monitoring of the arms embargo in Somalia through persistent and vigilant investigation into the violations, bearing in mind that strict enforcement of the arms embargo will improve the overall security situation in Somalia,

Determining that the situation in Somalia constitutes a threat to international peace and security in the region,

Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

1. Stresses the obligation of all Member States to comply fully with the measures imposed by resolution 733 (1992);

2. Expresses its intention, in light of the report of the Monitoring Group dated 21 November 2006 (S/2006/913), to consider specific action to improve implementation of and compliance with measures imposed by resolution 733 (1992);

3. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Committee established pursuant to resolution 751 (1992) of 24 April 1992 (hereinafter referred to as “the Committee”), to re-establish within thirty days from the date of the adoption of this resolution, and for a period of six months, the Monitoring Group referred to in paragraph 3 of resolution 1558 (2004), with the following mandate:

(a) to continue the tasks outlined in paragraphs 3 (a) to (c) of resolution 1587 (2005);

(b) to continue to investigate, in coordination with relevant international agencies, all activities, including in the financial, maritime and other sectors, which generate revenues used to commit arms embargo violations;

(c) to continue to investigate any means of transport, routes, seaports, airports and other facilities used in connection with arms embargo violations;

(d) to continue refining and updating information on the draft list of those individuals and entities who violate the measures implemented by Member States in accordance with resolution 733 (1992), inside and outside Somalia, and their active supporters, for possible future measures by the Council, and to present such information to the Committee as and when the Committee deems appropriate;

(e) to continue making recommendations based on its investigations, on the previous reports of the Panel of Experts (S/2003/223 and S/2003/1035) appointed pursuant to resolutions 1425 (2002) of 22 July 2002 and 1474 (2003) of 8 April 2003, and on the previous reports of the Monitoring Group (S/2004/604, S/2005/153, S/2005/625, S/2006/229 and S/2006/913) appointed pursuant to resolutions 1519 (2003) of 16 December 2003, 1558 (2004) of 17 August 2004, 1587 (2005) of 15 March 2005, 1630 (2005) of 14 October 2005, and 1676 (2006) of 10 May 2006;

(f) to work closely with the Committee on specific recommendations for additional measures to improve overall compliance with the arms embargo;

(g) to assist in identifying areas where the capacities of States in the region can be strengthened to facilitate the implementation of the arms embargo;

(h) to provide to the Council, through the Committee, a midterm briefing within 90 days from its establishment, and to submit progress reports to the Committee on a monthly basis;

(i) to submit, for the Security Council’s consideration, through the Committee, a final report covering all the tasks set out above, no later than 15 days prior to the termination of the Monitoring Group’s mandate;

4. Further requests the Secretary-General to make the necessary financial arrangements to support the work of the Monitoring Group;

5. Reaffirms paragraphs 4, 5, 7, 8 and 10 of resolution 1519 (2003);

6. Requests the Committee, in accordance with its mandate and in consultation with the Monitoring Group and other relevant United Nations entities, to consider the recommendations in the reports of the Monitoring Group dated 5 April and 16 October 2006 and recommend to the Council ways to improve implementation of and compliance with the arms embargo, in response to continuing violations;

7. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.