Eritrea did not arm Al-Shabaab militants, says UN report

The United Nations has discounted reports that Eritrea supplied weapons to the Al-Shabaab militant group to fight Kenyan troops last year.

A UN Security Council assessment report for December said investigations had established that Eritrea did not supply the weapons as alleged by the Kenya Defence Forces.

“The Monitoring Group also pursued its investigation into alleged arms deliveries by air to the Al-Shabaab controlled airfields in Southern Somalia in late October and early November 2011, the report reads in part.

"The SEMG’s preliminary assessment is that these reports were incorrect and that the alleged deliveries to Baidoa probably did not take place."

Military spokesman Major Emmanuel Chirchir had claimed that at least three aircraft had landed at the Baidoa airstrip in southern Somalia carrying weapons to the militants. (Read: Two planes fly arms to Al-Shabaab)

"We know Baidoa is being used to deliver weapons,” Maj Chirchir was quoted at the time and warned that Kenyan troops would shoot down any aircraft overflying Southern Somalia.

“Every time we have a delivery, we are going to take that aircraft down. All aircraft are hereby warned not to land in Baidoa," Maj Chirchir said in a statement on his Twitter account.

"Anyone violating this will be doing so at their peril. Further unauthorised flying over the region will be considered a threat.”

Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetangula also summoned Eritrean ambassador to Kenya, Mr Beyene Russom to his office to explain Asmara’s alleged links to the militants.

Eritrea through its Foreign Affairs ministry vehemently denied the claims branding them as part of Ethiopia’s campaign of misinformation to discredit Asmara. (Read: Eritrea denies Al-Shabaab weapons supply)

On Monday, the Eritrean embassy in Nairobi demanded independent investigations into the matter.

“Eritrea has requested a full, fair and independent investigation to be conducted by UNSC to the above mentioned allegation and all other unfounded related accusations,” a statement from the embassy read.