Small Arms Pose Threat To Peace

Small arms / light weapons

Excessive accumulation and uncontrolled spread of small arms and light weapons pose a threat to peace and security.

Dr Francis K. Sang, the Executive Secretary of the Nairobi-based Regional Centre on Small Arms (RECSA), said this at the opening of a two-day meeting under the aegis of the African Union with participation of ECOWAS Commission, West Africa Action Network on Small Arms(WAASA) and the European Union.

The meeting is being attended by Governments, Parliamentarians, security agencies and civil societies from Africa.

Mr Sang decried the use of illicit and light weapons, which is threatening human rights and social development in many countries.

He said it was a fact that since Africa had become a continent of a number of internal armed conflicts, these weapons caused untold human suffering.

He observed that a close link between illicit transfers and trade in arms and light weapon, terrorism and organised crime was also well acknowledged, hence the need to engage with a wide range of stakeholders in addressing these concerns.

The Executive Secretary stated measures to address the impact of the contribution of illicit small arms to the broader efforts to promote international peace and security, including peace-building and conflict prevention.

He was optimistic that the meeting would benefit the Africa population at large, which has continued to suffer from the negative impact of the easy availability of firearms and explosion.

”Indeed, success in controlling the trafficking of illegal small arms will curb their proliferation and improve security for Africa and its people, and social and economic development,” Dr. sang said.

On behalf of RECSA, he thanked the European Union for funding the project.

” We also thank ECOWAS for offering support: Without this kind of support from the Regional Economic Commission and Intergovernmental bodies, the objectives of this project would be difficult to achieve,” Dr. sang.

The president of West Africa Action Network on Small Arms(WAANSA), Baffour Dokyi Amoa, said although much had been said and done about the need to fight the proliferation of small arms and light weapon in Africa, armed violence continued to rise with disturbing propensity and intensity.

He said it was for this reason and those arising out of persistent conflicts, threat of terrorism, human trafficking, drug trafficking, political conflicts, injustice and youth unemployment ”that makes us applaud the initiative being taken by the Africa Union.”

Mr Amoa commended the European Union for funding the three-year project entitled: The Fight Against the Illicit Accumulation and Trafficking of Firearms in Africa.

He prayed that their gesture would pave the way for peace, security and development of the continent.

He pledged WAANSA’s readiness and commitment to stakeholders, including the Africa Forum on Small Arms (AFONSA), to work until the continent of Africa was free from the devastating impact of small arms and light weapons.

”Development is what Africa needs and development is what Africa shall fight for,” Mr Amoa said.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, who was the special guest of honour, praised the meeting and said it was the outcome of a number of years of negotiations among the European Union, Africa Union and the Regional Centre on Small Arms (RECSA) based in Nairobi.

He said the choice of Ghana for the meeting was appropriate and ”that is why we are here to add our voice to the global fight against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

The minister said the proliferation of small arms and light weapons was a depletion of energies in the effort to meet the challenges of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

“We know that this is a distraction, which we all can afford to condone, it is a distraction that we need to fight vigorously with all hands on deck,” Alhaji Mumuni said.

In an address read by Major Gen. Charles Okae (retd) on behalf of the president of the ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency Victor James Gbeho, he said the meeting would provide an opportunity for ECOWAS countries to further anchor the implementation of the relevant conventions, carrying along all keys players.

He entreated stakeholders to ensure fruitful deliberations so that the project would be executed to sustain the campaign against the proliferation of arms on our sub-region and the whole of Africa.

On behalf of the Africa Union (AU), Mr Peter Otim expressed gratitude to the EU and all the stakeholders for the meeting. He wished the participants a successful deliberation.