The Regional Center on Small Arms and Light Weapons (RECSA) has called on member countries to enhance their ammunition management to prevent the diversion of arms into the wrong hands.

During the launch of the 2024 Africa Amnesty Month project at the Police Training School, Gishari, on September 23, RECSA Executive Secretary Jean Pierre Betindji emphasized that there is a need for shared commitment to address proliferation of illicit arms.

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According to RECSA, small and light weapons remain a significant vector of instability across Africa, as they are often used to fuel conflicts, genocide, and various forms of criminality.

Improved techniques for securing and storing arms are crucial to preventing their misuse and maintaining peace in the region, officials noted. Figures indicate that there are about 100 million illicit arms possession on the continent.

"Root causes of many conflicts come from diversion and mis-management of ammunition from state stockpiles. We note that those who use illicit arms obtain them from state stocks. If they don’t have access to buy arms, where do they get them from? Member states should adopt efficiency in management of data and records of arms usage,” said RECSA Executive Secretary Jean Pierre Betindji.

Up to 40 defence and security personnel from Rwanda reflected on the components of RECSA&039;s efforts and AU's commitment to peace and stability through efficient and management skills of ammunition and weapons.

The head of the department of small arms and international cooperation in the Ministry of Interior, CP (Rtd) Vianney Nshimiyimana, said that the physical and security stockpile management training under the Africa Amnesty project in Rwanda aims to equip defence and security staff with efficient equipment and ammunition management skills.

He said: "Rwanda has implemented stringent measures since 2003 to address the challenges posed by illicit arms, including legislative reforms, such as the 2009 fire arms law, which was updated in 2018 to ensure stricter accountability in the possession, use, and importation of firearms.

"Rwanda has shown a steadfast commitment to combating the illegal possession and use of firearms, having ratified the Nairobi Protocol in 2005. We embraced technology to draft records and a data base for weapons, every weapon has a serial number and can traced with its identification of origin.”

RECSA, which comprises 15 member states, continues to conduct annual activities to combat the misuse of firearms, and driving the dedication to encouraging the voluntary surrender of illicit arms without prosecution.

"Illicit arms proliferation is a global, continental, regional and individual threat. You can not develop while there is a threat. An awareness and voluntary surrendering of small and light awareness will help to improve storage in order to avoid any diversion. The trainees will be acquainted with skills to maintain safe storage,” said Nshimiyimana.