African Countries Reaffirm Commitment to Curbing Illicit Arms Proliferation

NAIROBI, Xinhua: Countries in the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes regions on Monday renewed their commitment to curbing the flow of illicit small and light weapons and advancing long-term stability.

At a forum held in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, policymakers, security experts, diplomats, and peace campaigners from the regions emphasized the importance of enhanced vigilance and coordination in countering the proliferation of illicit weapons.

Convened by Kenya’s Ministry of Interior and National Administration and the Regional Center on Small Arms and Light Weapons (RECSA), a Nairobi-based intergovernmental organization, the five-day meeting seeks to recalibrate national and regional strategies aimed at eliminating the unregulated flow of small and light weapons.

Raymond Omollo, principal secretary in Kenya’s Ministry of Internal Security and National Administration, said regional governments are committed to combating the shared threat posed by illicit weapons.

“Across this region, the security threat posed by the proliferation of small and light weapons is immense and includes terrorism, conflicts, and violent crime,” Omollo said.

He stressed that enhanced intelligence sharing, public awareness, capacity building for law enforcement agencies, and the harmonization of policy and legislative frameworks are vital for containing the illicit movement of light weapons.

Jean Pierre Betindji, RECSA’s executive secretary, said the region stands united behind a common goal of halting the cross-border movement of illicit weapons through enhanced tracking, reporting, and the destruction of seized stockpiles.

Betindji said governments in the region are leveraging new technologies, strengthening national institutions, and sharing best practices to boost action against the proliferation of small and light weapons.