Leff, Jonah et al.. 2020 ‘Legal & Regulatory Framework.’ Weapons and Ammunition Management Country Insight: Somalia, p. 4. Geneva: United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research / UNIDIR. 18 November

Relevant contents

The presidential decree of 18 September 2018 on the Control of Arms and Ammunition of the National Army serves as the primary national framework on WAM (weapons and ammunition management) and regulates the process for acquisition, management and distribution of weapons to the security forces in an accountable and transparent manner. The decree is implemented through a set of nine standard operating procedures (SOP) covering: 1) general armoury procedures; 2) armoury procedures for weapons; 3) armoury procedures for ammunition and explosives; 4) accounting of weapons, ammunition and explosives; 5) marking of weapons; 6) destruction of weapons and ammunition; 7) transport of weapons and/or ammunition; 8) reception and documentation procedures at Halane armoury; and 9) management of captured weapons. The decree, together with the SOP, provides the basis of the current national WAM framework in Somalia.

Regarding a legal framework governing civilian-owned firearm, the FGS (Federal Government of Somalia) drafted two acts in 2017 to regulate civilian ownership of small arms and weapons of private security companies. These acts were developed to address the gaps in the existing Public Order Law of 1963, considered obsolete and inadequate to address contemporary security challenges. The timely finalization and adoption of the two acts, and the subsequent outreach and awareness raising of the population regarding these laws, will further advance efforts to govern arms and ammunition throughout the country.

Last accessed at:
https://unidir.org/publication/weapons-and-ammunition-management-country-insight-somalia