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African nations unite against arms
Somalia's civil war brought a lot of arms into the region
Ten countries from the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region have signed an agreement aimed at stopping the proliferation of small arms in the region.
The countries agreed to greater co-operation between their police, intelligence and customs officials, to combat the illicit circulation and trafficking of arms.
The countries agreed to greater co-operation between their police, intelligence and customs officials, to combat the illicit circulation and trafficking of arms.
I know it will take time but if we deal with the conflicts and the causes of the problems, we will get there.  |
Tanzania's Foreign Minister, Jakaya Kikwete
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Kenya's Foreign Minister, Bonaya Godana, said the joint approach signalled the first step in ending numerous conflicts hindering development in the countries involved.
He said there were an estimated 100 million illicit small arms in Africa.
The declaration issued at the end of a four-day conference in Nairobi pledged in part to "encourage a concrete and coordinated agenda for action for the subregion to promote human security."
It said also that the signatories would "ensure that all states have in place adequate laws, regulations and administrative procedures" for effective gun control.
Somalia absent
Some countries like Kenya and Tanzania have blamed the increase in violent crimes on the small arms that are smuggled into their countries.
Ministers and senior government delegates came from the host nation Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi, DR Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Djibouti, also called for international help from the UN, the OAU and other bodies to help rid their countries of illicit small arms and light weapons.
Significantly, Somalia, which has been without a government since 1991, was not represented.
An Eritrean representative explained that his country's commitment to ending small arms trafficking preceded its border conflict with Ethiopia.
The delegates also urged countries that manufacture small arms to ensure proper regulation through licensing.
Tanzania's Foreign Minister, Jakaya Kikwete, acknowledged that the problem was not a simple one. "I know it will take time but if we deal with the conflicts and the causes of the problems, we will get there," he said.
He said there were an estimated 100 million illicit small arms in Africa.
The declaration issued at the end of a four-day conference in Nairobi pledged in part to "encourage a concrete and coordinated agenda for action for the subregion to promote human security."
It said also that the signatories would "ensure that all states have in place adequate laws, regulations and administrative procedures" for effective gun control.
Somalia absent
Some countries like Kenya and Tanzania have blamed the increase in violent crimes on the small arms that are smuggled into their countries.
Ministers and senior government delegates came from the host nation Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi, DR Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Djibouti, also called for international help from the UN, the OAU and other bodies to help rid their countries of illicit small arms and light weapons.
Significantly, Somalia, which has been without a government since 1991, was not represented.
An Eritrean representative explained that his country's commitment to ending small arms trafficking preceded its border conflict with Ethiopia.
The delegates also urged countries that manufacture small arms to ensure proper regulation through licensing.
Tanzania's Foreign Minister, Jakaya Kikwete, acknowledged that the problem was not a simple one. "I know it will take time but if we deal with the conflicts and the causes of the problems, we will get there," he said.
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