Latest news with #SanctionsCommittee
Yemen Online
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Yemen Online
US weapons left in Afghanistan sold to Yemen's Houthis , Al qaedah
Aden - Half a million weapons obtained by the Taliban in Afghanistan have been lost, sold or smuggled to militant groups, sources have told the BBC - with the UN believing that some have fallen into the hands of al-Qaeda affiliates. The Taliban took control of around one million weapons and pieces of military equipment - which had mostly been funded by the US - when it regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, according to a former Afghan official who spoke to the BBC anonymously. As the Taliban advanced through Afghanistan in 2021, many Afghan soldiers surrendered or fled, abandoning their weapons and vehicles. Some equipment was simply left behind by US forces. The cache included American-made firearms, such as M4 and M16 rifles, as well as other older weapons in Afghan possession that had been left behind from decades of conflict. Sources have told the BBC that, at the closed-door UN Security Council's Sanctions Committee in Doha late last year, the Taliban admitted that at least half of this equipment is now "unaccounted" for. A person from the committee said they had verified with other sources that the whereabouts of half a million items was unknown. In a report in February, the UN stated that al-Qaeda affiliates, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, and Yemen's Houthis, were accessing Taliban-captured weapons or buying them on the black market. The BBC put this to Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson for the Taliban government, who told the BBC it took the protection and storage of weapons very seriously. "All light and heavy weapons are securely stored. We strongly reject claims of smuggling or loss," he said. A 2023 UN report said the Taliban allowed local commanders to retain 20% of seized US weapons, and that the black market was thriving as a result. These commanders are affiliated to the Taliban but often have a degree of autonomy in their regions. The UN noted that the "gifting of weapons is widely practiced between local commanders and fighters to consolidate power. The black market remains a rich source of weaponry for the Taliban". A former journalist in the city of Kandahar told the BBC that an open arms market existed there for a year after the Taliban takeover, but has since gone underground via the messaging service WhatsApp. On it, wealthy individuals and local commanders trade new and used US weapons and equipment - mostly the weapons left by US-backed forces. The number of weapons recorded by the US body tasked with overseeing Afghan reconstruction projects, known as Sigar, is lower than those cited by our sources, but in a 2022 report it acknowledged it was unable to get accurate information. The reason given for this was that equipment has been funded and supplied by various US departments and organisations over the years. Sigar added that there had been "shortfalls and issues with DoD's [Department of Defense] processes for tracking equipment in Afghanistan" for more than a decade. It also criticised the State Department, adding: "State provided us limited, inaccurate, and untimely information about the equipment and funds it left behind." The department denied this was the case. This is very much a political issue, and US President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that he will reclaim weapons from Afghanistan. He said that $85bn (£66bn) of advanced weaponry was left there. "Afghanistan is one of the biggest sellers of military equipment in the world, you know why? They're selling the equipment that we left," Trump said during his first cabinet meeting of the new administration. "I want to look into this. If we need to pay them, that's fine, but we want our military equipment back." The president's figure has been disputed, as money spent in Afghanistan also funded training and salaries. Also, Afghanistan did not feature in the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute's top 25 largest exporters of major arms last year. In response to Trump's comments, Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban's chief spokesperson, told Afghan state TV: "We seized these weapons from the previous administration and will use them to defend the country and counter any threats." The Taliban regularly parades US weapons, including at Bagram Airfield, which served as the main US-Nato base, and frame them as symbols of victory and legitimacy. After withdrawing in 2021, the Pentagon claimed US equipment left in Afghanistan was disabled, but the Taliban have since built a capable military using US weapons and gained superiority over rival groups, such as the National Resistance Front and Islamic State Khorasan Province - the regional affiliate of the Islamic State group.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
US weapons left in Afghanistan sold to militant groups, sources tell BBC
Half a million weapons obtained by the Taliban in Afghanistan have been lost, sold or smuggled to militant groups, sources have told the BBC - with the UN believing that some have fallen into the hands of al-Qaeda affiliates. The Taliban took control of around one million weapons and pieces of military equipment - which had mostly been funded by the US - when it regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, according to a former Afghan official who spoke to the BBC anonymously. As the Taliban advanced through Afghanistan in 2021, many Afghan soldiers surrendered or fled, abandoning their weapons and vehicles. Some equipment was simply left behind by US forces. The cache included American-made firearms, such as M4 and M16 rifles, as well as other older weapons in Afghan possession that had been left behind from decades of conflict. Sources have told the BBC that, at the closed-door UN Security Council's Sanctions Committee in Doha late last year, the Taliban admitted that at least half of this equipment is now "unaccounted" for. A person from the committee said they had verified with other sources that the whereabouts of half a million items was unknown. In a report in February, the UN stated that al-Qaeda affiliates, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, and Yemen's Ansarullah movement, were accessing Taliban-captured weapons or buying them on the black market. The BBC put this to Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson for the Taliban government, who told the BBC it took the protection and storage of weapons very seriously. "All light and heavy weapons are securely stored. We strongly reject claims of smuggling or loss," he said. A 2023 UN report said the Taliban allowed local commanders to retain 20% of seized US weapons, and that the black market was thriving as a result. These commanders are affiliated to the Taliban but often have a degree of autonomy in their regions. The UN noted that the "gifting of weapons is widely practiced between local commanders and fighters to consolidate power. The black market remains a rich source of weaponry for the Taliban". A former journalist in the city of Kandahar told the BBC that an open arms market existed there for a year after the Taliban takeover, but has since gone underground via the messaging service WhatsApp. On it, wealthy individuals and local commanders trade new and used US weapons and equipment - mostly the weapons left by US-backed forces. The number of weapons recorded by the US body tasked with overseeing Afghan reconstruction projects, known as Sigar, is lower than those cited by our sources, but in a 2022 report it acknowledged it was unable to get accurate information. The reason given for this was that equipment has been funded and supplied by various US departments and organisations over the years. Sigar added that there had been "shortfalls and issues with DoD's [Department of Defense] processes for tracking equipment in Afghanistan" for more than a decade. It also criticised the State Department, adding: "State provided us limited, inaccurate, and untimely information about the equipment and funds it left behind." The department denied this was the case. This is very much a political issue, and US President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that he will reclaim weapons from Afghanistan. He said that $85bn (£66bn) of advanced weaponry was left there. "Afghanistan is one of the biggest sellers of military equipment in the world, you know why? They're selling the equipment that we left," Trump said during his first cabinet meeting of the new administration. "I want to look into this. If we need to pay them, that's fine, but we want our military equipment back." The president's figure has been disputed, as money spent in Afghanistan also funded training and salaries. Also, Afghanistan did not feature in the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute's top 25 largest exporters of major arms last year. In response to Trump's comments, Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban's chief spokesperson, told Afghan state TV: "We seized these weapons from the previous administration and will use them to defend the country and counter any threats." The Taliban regularly parades US weapons, including at Bagram Airfield, which served as the main US-Nato base, and frame them as symbols of victory and legitimacy. After withdrawing in 2021, the Pentagon claimed US equipment left in Afghanistan was disabled, but the Taliban have since built a capable military using US weapons and gained superiority over rival groups, such as the National Resistance Front and Islamic State Khorasan Province - the regional affiliate of the Islamic State group. A source from the former Afghan government told the BBC that "hundreds" of unused Humvees, mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles (MRAPs), and Black Hawk helicopters remain in Kandahar warehouses. The Taliban has showcased some of this captured equipment in propaganda videos, but their ability to operate and maintain advanced machinery, such as Black Hawk helicopters, is limited due to a lack of trained personnel and technical expertise. Much of this sophisticated equipment remains non-operational. However, the Taliban have been able to utilise more straightforward equipment, like Humvees and small arms, in their operations. While Donald Trump appears determined to reclaim US weapons from Afghanistan, the former head of Sigar, John Sopko, says such an attempt would be pointless. At a recent event hosted by the Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies, he said that "the cost would exceed its actual value". Whether Trump will take any action remains to be seen, but, in the meantime, concerns about the spread of weapons in the region and access by militant groups remain unresolved. Inside the Taliban's surveillance network monitoring millions Special Forces rejected 2,000 credible asylum claims from Afghan commandos, MoD confirms Afghanistan country profile
BBC News
17-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
US weapons left in Afghanistan sold to militant groups, sources tell BBC
Half a million weapons obtained by the Taliban in Afghanistan have been lost, sold or smuggled to militant groups, sources have told the BBC - with the UN believing that some have fallen into the hands of al-Qaeda Taliban took control of around one million weapons and pieces of military equipment - which had mostly been funded by the US - when it regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, according to a former Afghan official who spoke to the BBC the Taliban advanced through Afghanistan in 2021, many Afghan soldiers surrendered or fled, abandoning their weapons and vehicles. Some equipment was simply left behind by US cache included American-made firearms, such as M4 and M16 rifles, as well as other older weapons in Afghan possession that had been left behind from decades of have told the BBC that, at the closed-door UN Security Council's Sanctions Committee in Doha late last year, the Taliban admitted that at least half of this equipment is now "unaccounted" for.A person from the committee said they had verified with other sources that the whereabouts of half a million items was a report in February, the UN stated that al-Qaeda affiliates, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, and Yemen's Ansarullah movement, were accessing Taliban-captured weapons or buying them on the black BBC put this to Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson for the Taliban government, who told the BBC it took the protection and storage of weapons very seriously."All light and heavy weapons are securely stored. We strongly reject claims of smuggling or loss," he said. A 2023 UN report said the Taliban allowed local commanders to retain 20% of seized US weapons, and that the black market was thriving as a result. These commanders are affiliated to the Taliban but often have a degree of autonomy in their UN noted that the "gifting of weapons is widely practiced between local commanders and fighters to consolidate power. The black market remains a rich source of weaponry for the Taliban".A former journalist in the city of Kandahar told the BBC that an open arms market existed there for a year after the Taliban takeover, but has since gone underground via the messaging service WhatsApp. On it, wealthy individuals and local commanders trade new and used US weapons and equipment - mostly the weapons left by US-backed number of weapons recorded by the US body tasked with overseeing Afghan reconstruction projects, known as Sigar, is lower than those cited by our sources, but in a 2022 report it acknowledged it was unable to get accurate information. The reason given for this was that equipment has been funded and supplied by various US departments and organisations over the years. Sigar added that there had been "shortfalls and issues with DoD's [Department of Defense] processes for tracking equipment in Afghanistan" for more than a decade. It also criticised the State Department, adding: "State provided us limited, inaccurate, and untimely information about the equipment and funds it left behind." The department denied this was the case. This is very much a political issue, and US President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that he will reclaim weapons from Afghanistan. He said that $85bn (£66bn) of advanced weaponry was left there."Afghanistan is one of the biggest sellers of military equipment in the world, you know why? They're selling the equipment that we left," Trump said during his first cabinet meeting of the new administration."I want to look into this. If we need to pay them, that's fine, but we want our military equipment back."The president's figure has been disputed, as money spent in Afghanistan also funded training and salaries. Also, Afghanistan did not feature in the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute's top 25 largest exporters of major arms last response to Trump's comments, Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban's chief spokesperson, told Afghan state TV: "We seized these weapons from the previous administration and will use them to defend the country and counter any threats."The Taliban regularly parades US weapons, including at Bagram Airfield, which served as the main US-Nato base, and frame them as symbols of victory and withdrawing in 2021, the Pentagon claimed US equipment left in Afghanistan was disabled, but the Taliban have since built a capable military using US weapons and gained superiority over rival groups, such as the National Resistance Front and Islamic State Khorasan Province - the regional affiliate of the Islamic State group.A source from the former Afghan government told the BBC that "hundreds" of unused Humvees, mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles (MRAPs), and Black Hawk helicopters remain in Kandahar Taliban has showcased some of this captured equipment in propaganda videos, but their ability to operate and maintain advanced machinery, such as Black Hawk helicopters, is limited due to a lack of trained personnel and technical expertise. Much of this sophisticated equipment remains the Taliban have been able to utilise more straightforward equipment, like Humvees and small arms, in their Donald Trump appears determined to reclaim US weapons from Afghanistan, the former head of Sigar, John Sopko, says such an attempt would be a recent event hosted by the Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies, he said that "the cost would exceed its actual value".Whether Trump will take any action remains to be seen, but, in the meantime, concerns about the spread of weapons in the region and access by militant groups remain unresolved.
BBC News
06-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Nigeria freeze Ipob promoter Simon Ekpa, Lakurawa group, odas bank accounts
Nigeria goment don list about 17 individuals on di Nigeria Sanction List and freeze dia accounts on activities wey surround issues of terrorism. Simon Ekpa wey be promoter of di proscribed militant group Indigenous Pipo of Biafra (Ipob) wey land prison for Finland on charges of alleged terrorist activities, dey among di individuals wey Nigeria govment freeze dia assets. Also, Lakurawa wey be a newly formed armed group wey dey claim jihad for Northwest Nigeria, dey among di affected groups wey dey listed on di Nigeria Sanction List. On Thursday, Nigeria goment inside one meeting for Abuja take di decision say di 17 affected individuals and entities gatz report to di Nigeria Sanction Committee. Di Nigeria Sanctions Committee dey act in accordance to Section 54 of di Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. Di section tok say di committee go 'immediately, identify and freeze, without prior notice, all funds, assets, and any oda economic resources wey belong to di designated pesin or entity for dia possession and report same to di Sanctions Committee.' Anoda part of di section also tok say "di freezing obligation shall extend to all funds or oda assets wey dey owned or controlled by di designated person or entity, and not just dose wey dey tied to a particular act, plot, or threat of terrorism or terrorism financing". Di committee go immediately freeze accounts, assets and oda economic resources wey belong to Simon Ekpa, Lakurawa group and oda 15 individuals and groups wey dey di Sanction List. "For designated entities, dis go include accounts linked to dia signatories and directors to ensure comprehensive enforcement of di sanctions regime." Accounts linked to di signatories of di entities go also dey freeze so dem go fit enforce di sanction well, according to di Sanctions Committee. Rememba say for March 2024, Nigerian army declare Ekpa and 96 oda wanted for terrorism, violent extremism and secessionist threats. And den for November 2024, Finnish detectives say Ekpa ginger "violence against civilians and public authorities and oda crimes for south-east Nigeria" while im dey Finland. Full list of individuals and groups on di Sanction List Di affected individuals and entities gatz do di following conditions, according to di committee: Dem dey required to report to di Sanctions Committee any assets frozen or actions wey dem take in compliance wit di prohibition requirements. Dem must immediately file a Suspicious Transactions Report to di NFIU for further analysis on di financial activities of such an individual or entity. Dem gatz report as a Suspicious Transactions Report to the NFIU, all cases of name matching in financial transactions prior to or afta receipt of dis List. "Di freezing obligation required go extend to all funds or oda assets wey dey owned or controlled by di designated persons and entities, and not only dose wey dey tied to a particular act, plot, or threat of terrorism or terrorism financing." Wetin to know about di Nigeria Sanctions Committee According to information wey dey available for di website of di Nigeria Sanction Committee, dem dey setup to implement financial sanctions wey dem label as Targeted Financial Sanctions. Targeted Financial Sanctions (TFS) dey designed to deny any individuals or entities associated wit terrorism, terrorism financing and financing of di proliferation of weapons of mass destruction access to assets, funds, equipment or support. Na di Attorney-General of di Federation and Minister of Justice dey chair di Nigeria Sanctions Committee and e dey empowered to make all necessary, regulations, guidelines, procedures and rules for di implementation of di United Nations Security Council Resolutions for Nigeria Who be Simon Ekpa? Simon Ekpa na Nigerian-Finnish Biafran agitator wey be self-acclaimed disciple of detained leader of di Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu. Ekpa wey dey live for Finland dey champion di restoration of Biafra Republic and calling on Igbo pipo wey dey for southeast to boycott di general elections unless di Federal Goment release Kanu. Ekpa for im Twitter page describe imsef as human rights activist, CEO, senior legal advisor at Ekpa & Co Oy, legal researcher, author, analyst, Finnish politician and Biafra tok-tok pesin.
