WASHINGTON– Firebrand congresswoman Ilhan Omar has written to US President Joe Biden over Washington’s Sanctions Policy in Somalia. Just a day after State Department threatened to punish people is termed as “elections saboteurs.”

The State Department warned that it’s scrutinizing several Somali nationals over delayed elections, noting that those found guilty of derailing the exercise will be severely punished. The US is now considering restricting the issuance of Visas to them.

In the statement, the Minnesota 5th District representative called for a reexamination over the sanctions issued in 2010 and 2012 that remain in place. Since the sanctions were initially enacted, the situation in Somalia has changed dramatically, she noted.

“The situation in Somalia has changed dramatically since these orders were issued during the Obama Administration, and the Executive Orders don’t enumerate any specific conditions under which sanctions can be lifted,” wrote Rep Omar.

“I know we share the goal of making our sanctions programs more flexible and responsive to changing realities, as well as the goal of incorporating sanctions into broader strategies in Somalia and elsewhere.”

The situation in Somalia, she noted, has changed dramatically since these orders were issued during the Obama Administration, and the Executive Orders don’t enumerate any specific conditions under which sanctions can be lifted.

“I know we share the goal of making our sanctions programs more flexible and responsive to changing realities, as well as the goal of incorporating sanctions into broader strategies in Somalia and elsewhere,” she added.

The US has been a critical security and development partner of Somalia and has been helping the Horn of Africa nation in the fight against Al-Shabaab militants. There are reports that the US could redeploy its troops to the country a year or after withdrawal.

GAROWE ONLINE