On 20 November 2008, the United Nations Security Council, acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, adopted Resolution 1844 (2008) confirming the general and complete arms embargo against Somalia imposed by the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 733 (1992) and introducing additional restrictive measures.

The additional restrictive measures concern restrictions on admission and financial restrictive measures against individuals and entities designated by the Security Council or by the United Nations Sanctions Committee established pursuant to UNSCR 751 (1992) concerning Somalia. In addition to the general arms embargo, the Resolution introduces a specific prohibition on the direct and indirect supply, sale or transfer, of weapons and military equipment and a specific prohibition on the provision of related assistance and services, to individuals and entities listed by the Sanctions Committee.

The restrictive measures are aimed at individuals and entities designated by the United Nations (UN) as engaging in or providing support for acts that threaten the peace, security or stability of Somalia, including acts that threaten the Djibouti Agreement of 18 August 2008 or the political process, or threaten the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs) or the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) by force, as having acted in violation of the arms embargo and related measures, or as obstructing the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Somalia, or access to, or distribution of, humanitarian assistance in Somalia.

On 16 February 2009, the Council of the European Union adopted restrictive measures against Somalia which provides, inter alia, for financial restrictive measures concerning natural or legal persons, entities or bodies listed by the UN, as well as for a prohibition on the direct and indirect provision of assistance and services related to weapons and military equipment to such persons, entities or bodies.

Restrictive measures

Trade sanctions: Restricted products and transactions

Defence-related products	Improvised explosive device components	Charcoal
There is an arms embargo for export, technical assistance, brokering and financial assistance. Some exceptions apply.	Export is subject to an authorization. Some exceptions apply.	Import is prohibited.

Financial sanctions: Listed persons & entities, restricted services

There are currently many persons on the list of people whose funds and economic resources are frozen.

Other sanctions

EU Member States must prevent the entry into, or the transit through, their territories of listed persons.

To go further

Sanctions & Embargoes, by RespectUs	Namecheck by RespectUs	License Determination, designed by RespectUs
Indicate your product, transaction, customer, country, and get a full report on the applicable restrictive measure(s).	Search by name, first name, address, birth date, to see if a determined person or entity is listed, and thus subject to any sanction or restrictive measure.	Process your transaction, product, destination country and customer, to determine if a license is required for this transaction, or any other restrictive measure is applicable.

Legal texts

Council Regulation (EC) 147/2003 of 27 January 2003 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Somalia

Council Decision 2010/231/CFSP of 26 April 2010 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Somalia

Council Regulation (EC) 356/2010 of 26 April 2010 imposing certain specific restrictive measures against certain natural or legal persons, entities or bodies, in view of the situation in Somalia

Related information

Human Rights Watch - Somalia. Human Rights Watch investigates and reports on abuses happening in all corners of the world.