The implausible report about weapons in the hands of armed groups in Africa

Editor, The estimate suggesting that about 79 per cent of small arms in Africa are in the hands of civilians is completely implausible. Were that the case, most of us would at least know of someone among our relatives, friends or associates with a small arm, but that is far from the case. This seems like the classic case of using statistics to make whatever claim one wants. Until we are shown how robust the methodology used to compile these estimates was, I will remain highly sceptical of these claims. The reference to “disciplined forces”, presumably including the DRC military, must also sound like an extremely weak joke to those, including the rape victims in Minova, who have been at the receiving end of FARDC discipline. Finally, our recent experience should have taught us that the veracity of reports by the UN Secretary General should be taken with an extra-large helping of salt. Thank you. Mwene Kalinda, Kigali,Rwanda *************************** I don’t agree with AbdulRahman Ntaganda’s views that people must hold the Bible in one hand and rifle in another to ensure security of their countries. Is that security? I don’t think so. Doesn’t he see that the more we accumulate rifles, the more we push our neighbours to do the same? If security is the result of one’s capacity to wage war, then there will be no security. That’s how I see things. I don’t believe in many people owning guns because the act can backfire to become the reason for insecurity that we all fear. Ami, Huye,Rwanda Reactions to the story, “The irony of the number of weapons in the hands of armed groups in DRC”, (The New Times, May 16)

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The implausible report about weapons in the hands of armed groups in Africa