From September 25 to 27, 2019, the Sub-Regional Legal Assistance Workshop for States Parties to the Kinshasa Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) was held at the Sipopo International Conference Center in Malabo, Republic of Equatorial Guinea.

This workshop, organized with the support of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, is an integral part of the project "Supporting African States in the framework of the African Union's vision of "Silencing the Guns of Africa by 2020 ": Capacity Building of Central African States ", jointly implemented by the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the United Nations Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) and the Office of the United Nations United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA).

The participants for the workshop included delegates from the ECCAS Member States namely; Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe and Chad, international experts in the field of SALW and representatives of UN specialized agencies and sub-regional organizations (list of participants in annex).

The workshop was opened by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Her Excellency Maria Angeles MIAGA, in the presence of:

- Mr Guy-Pierre GARCIA, Deputy Secretary General, Head of Department of Human Integration, Peace, Security and Stability of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS);

- Mrs. Marilyn, Epse Tayim Ngum Fru, Senior Political Affairs Officer, Deputy Head of Political Affairs of the United Nations Office for Central Africa (UNOCA);

- Mr. Mady BIAYE, Resident Coordinator ai of the United Nations System in Equatorial Guinea;

- Mr. Anselme Nahmtante YABOURI, Director of the United Nations Regional Office for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC);

- Mr. Leonardo Lara Villarroel, Crime prevention and criminal justice officer at the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC);

- Members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Republic of Equatorial Guinea; and

 -The representatives of the United Nations agencies in the Republic of Equatorial Guinea.

After having welcomed the legislative and regulatory measures already taken by the Member States and the General Secretariat of ECCAS, the delegates noted challenges in the implementation of the Kinshasa Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and made the following recommendations as follows:

To the General Secretariat of ECCAS

• Establish a small arms and light weapons control unit within ECCAS;
• Ensure that the annual meetings of National Commissions on the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons become effective;
• Render operational the ECCAS Sub-Secretariat on the Kinshasa Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons;
• Promote research and training on small arms and light weapons through the Secretariat of the Kinshasa Convention;
• Organize and coordinate quality and certified training on the safe management of weapons and ammunitions stocks through the Secretariat of the Kinshasa Convention;
• Identify and reinvigorate civil society organization networks working on the issue of small arms and light weapons in Central Africa, in order to support the activities of national commissions to combat the proliferation of small arms and light weapons;
• Continue advocacy with Member States for the full ratification of the Kinshasa Convention;
• Intensify advocacy with Member States for the implementation of the Kinshasa Convention.

To States Parties

 Update the legal instruments for the control of small arms and light weapons;

• Harmonize national legal instruments on small arms and light weapons with the Kinshasa Convention;
• Realize the Trust Fund to ensure the functioning of the Secretariat of the Kinshasa Convention;
• Integrate youth and women's organizations into national commissions to combat the proliferation of small arms and light weapons;
• Consider the gender dimension in the preparation of national reports addressed to the General Secretariat of ECCAS (Kinshasa Convention) and the United Nations (UN Program of Action).

To partners working in the field of SALW: ECCAS / UNOCA / UNREC

- Support National Commissions in the implementation of the Kinshasa Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons;

- Organize a sub-regional workshop to present and validate the implementation guide of the Kinshasa Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons;

- Organize a joint ECCAS / UNOCA / UNREC meeting to prepare the next phase of the project;

- Develop, as an annex to a joint program, a resource mobilization strategy paper;

-Ensure the continuation of ongoing activities of the project and possibly request an extension without cost for their finalization.

Done at Malabo on September 27, 2019

From 25th to 27th September 2019, at the Sipopo International Conference Center in Malabo, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, the United Nations Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) organized, in collaboration with the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), and the Government of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, with the political support of the African Union, a Sub-Regional Legal Assistance Workshop for States Parties to the Kinshasa Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW).

The workshop is an integral part of the project "Supporting African States towards the Vision of ‘Silencing the Guns in Africa by 2020’: Capacity Building for Central African States".

The workshop aimed at strengthening the legal capacity of States in the implementation of the Central African Convention for the Control of SALW, their Ammunition and all Parts and Components that can be used for their Manufacture, Repair and Assembly.

The event brought together a total of 46 participants from 11 ECCAS Member States as well as academic experts and practitioners and focused not only on the legal obligations of States Parties to the Kinshasa Convention on SALW, but also on best practices to update national arms control legal texts.

The work was opened by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Her Excellency Maria Angeles MIAGA. Also in attendance were Mr Guy-Pierre GARCIA, Deputy Secretary General, Head of Department of Human Integration, Peace, Security and Stability of the ECCAS, Mrs. Marilyn Tayim Ngum Fru, Senior Policy Advisor, Deputy Head of Political Affairs of UNOCA, Mr. Mady MBAYE, Resident Coordinator a.i. of the United Nations System in Equatorial Guinea and Mr. Anselme Nahmtante YABOURI, Director of the ODA’s Regional Office for Africa: the United Nations Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) and Leonardo Lara, from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

During the workshop, experts presented the Kinshasa Convention on Small Arms and related legal obligations. They also presented efforts by various multilateral organizations such as ECCAS to assist Member States to ratify the convention and implement its provisions, the international standards on the control of small arms, in accordance with the Modular Small-arms-control Implementation Compendium (MOSAIC). The workshop was also an opportunity for the sharing of experiences and best practices, including the experience of Burundi, Sierra Leone, Mali and Burkina in the development and implementation of laws on the control of small arms and light weapons. Each of the 11 ECCAS Member State delegations presented the state of play and challenges as they relate to the implementation of the Kinshasa Convention in their respective countries. At the end of the workshop, a record of conclusions and recommendations towards ECCAS Member States, ECCAS Secretariat and the United Nations was prepared and adopted.

September 21, 2019- To mark the International Day of peace in Togo, the Government, through its National Commission on Small Arms and Light weapons with the technical assistance of the United Nations Regional Centre for peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC), proceeded to the destruction of 2,000 seized and obsoletes weapons and more than 10,000 ammunition.

Chaired by the Ministry of Security, the ceremony took place in the presence of the United Nations Resident Coordinator, the Director of UNREC, representatives of the Ministry of Security and National Defence, traditional authorities, NGO representatives and the media.

The ceremony fits well not only in the context of the United Nations Secretary General topic regarding “Climate Action for Peace” aiming at inducing Member States to take necessary measures to fight against global warming and its consequences, but also with the “Amnesty month in Africa” launched by African at the 29th Summit of the Heads of States and Government to combat the proliferation, circulation, trafficking and illicit use of Small Arms and Light weapons (SALW) across the continent.

The weapons destruction activity is another step under the project entitled: “Technical Assistance for Physical Security and Stockpile Management, Marking and Destruction of Small Arms and Light Weapons and Related Ammunitions in Togo” financed by the Government of Japan.

The present project shows the commitment of the Government of Togo to deal with security issues in the country and within the Western Region of Africa, sending to neighbouring countries a strong signal of the observance of the African Union’s agenda for Peace, Security and development.

Photos from the event: https://bit.ly/35hnYNV

Video : https://bit.ly/2nv0rs4

The United Nations Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA) will organize in collaboration with the Government of Equatorial Guinea, a Sub-Regional Legal Assistance Workshop for State Parties to the Central African Convention for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, their Ammunition, Parts and Components that can be used for their Manufacture, Repair or Assembly”, also known as Kinshasa Convention, from 25 to 27 September 2019, in Malabo (Republic of Equatorial Guinea). 

After the workshop held in Yaounde (Republic of Cameroon) from April 24 to 26, 2019, which had put the focus of exchanges on the problem of the proliferation and illicit trafficking of SALW and their ammunition, as well as the efforts made by the Member States and the ECCAS Secretariat for the effective implementation of the Kinshasa Convention, this three (3) days workshop will focus not only on the legal obligations of States Parties to the Kinshasa Convention on small arms, but also on best practices to update national arms control legislative frameworks.

This workshop is an integral part of the project intitled: « Supporting African States towards the Vision of “Silencing the Guns in Africa by 2020”: Capacity-Building in Central Africa », launched on 7 December 2018 in N'Djamena, on the margins of the 47th Ministerial Meeting of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa (UNSAC).

The Kinshasa Convention was adopted unanimously on April 30, 2010 in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo), pursuant to the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (PoA). This subregional instrument for the regulation and fight against illicit trade and trafficking of SALW, entered into force on 8 March 2017. Of the eleven (11) signatory States, seven (7) ratified the Convention, namely Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Gabon, São Tomé and Príncipe and Chad. The National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) voted on November 23, 2018, the law for the ratification of the Convention. In Equatorial Guinea, the parliament has given the authority to the executive to ratify the Convention.

For more information, please contact:

United Nations Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Africa, PO Box : 2705, Lome, TOGO, Phone: (+228) 225 350 00, E-mail:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , www.unrec.org
Economic Community of Central African States, PO Box : 2112, Libreville, GABON, Phone : (+241) 01 44 47 31, E-mail :This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., http://www.ceeac-eccas.org
United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa, PO Box : 23773 Libreville, Gabon, United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa, PO Box : 23773 Libreville, Gabon, Phone. +(241) 01 44 47 16, E-mail : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., http://unoca.unmissions.org twitter.com/UNOCA_NEWS twitter.com/UNOCA_NEWS

On 14 August 2019, UNREC Handed over two (02) Couth MC 2000 firearms marking machines to the Government of Togo trough the Togolese Minister for Security and Protection of Civilians in a formal ceremony attended by the Ambassador of Japan.

This ceremony marked the launch of the Arms marking process in the framework of the project entitled ‘Technical Assistance for Physical Security and Stockpile Management, Marking and Destruction of Small Arms and Light Weapons and Related Ammunitions in Togo’. The Project is implemented by the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament (UNREC), the African Centre of the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (ODA), with the financial support of the Government of Japan.The ceremony was chaired by the Minister for Security and Protection of Civilians, in the presence of the President of the Togolease National Commission on Small Arms (CNLPAL), the Ambassador of Japan to the Togolese Republic, the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in Togo and other United Nations entities.

The marking machines will enable national defense and security forces to undertake the marking of Civilian and State-Owned weapons presented to them nationwide in order to reduce the illicit proliferation and circulation of weapons in Togo and help improve security and stability in West-Africa.

The State of Japan, through its Ambassador to the Republic of Togo, has reiterated its support for the Togolese Government in its fight against insecurity, which tends to undermine its development efforts and threatens people lives.

On 7 August 2019, prior to this ceremony, the Government of Togo, through its National Commission on Small Arms and in collaboration with UNREC, organized an awareness campaign ahead of the Arms marking process in three main regions: The Eastern Plateau, the Western Plateau and the Maritime regions.

The meeting brought together, prefects security, customers, administrative and customary chiefs around two main topics:

1. Exchanges and information sharing between the National Commission, the regional authorities and committees on current security issues.
2. Awareness campaign in preparation of the physical security and stock management, weapons marking and destruction of obsolete weapons and their ammunition in Togo.

The collective nature of the fight for peace and security at local, national and regional levels with regard to the proliferation of SALW was discussed. It has been highlighted that the National Development Programme advocated by the government cannot work unless security is established beforehand.

Participants decided to make the fight against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, their priority in each of their areas of influence to ensure peace, social and economic development for their citizens.

From 15 July to 9 August 2019 in Lomé, Togo, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC), the Alioune Blodin Bèye Peacekeeping School in Bamako (EMP Bamako), and the Ministry of Security and Civil Protection of Togo, co-organized training of trainers (ToT) of the Togolese police and gendarmerie meat to prepare Formed Police Units(FPU) for deployment to United Nations peacekeeping missions including the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA)

The closing ceremony was chaired by the Secretary General of the Togolese Minister for Security and Protection of civilians in the presence of the Diplomatic Corps, Civil Society Organizations, and Representatives of International Organizations. The UN Resident Coordinator and other United Nations Agencies attended the ceremony as well.

Thirty (30) trainees officers of the Togolese police and gendarmerie including 5 women were trained over a period of one month in UNREC premises and at the Togolese Peacekeeping training Center for the active modules.

Participants became familiar with the context of the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, the operationalization of MINUSMA's mandate, police techniques, FPU procedures as well as weapons use, and engagement with communities as per United Nations norms and standards.

Access the following link for more pictures of the event: https://www.flickr.com/photos/unrec/albums/72157710195175936

Link to Video https://www.flickr.com/photos/unrec/48494684381/in/album-72157710195175936/

The present report provides an account of the activities of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa from July 2018 to June 2019.

During that period, the Centre continued to provide assistance to Member States, at their request, and to regional and subregional intergovernmental and civil society organizations in Africa to promote peace, security, disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation of conventional arms and weapons of mass destruction. The Centre also bolstered its information, communication and outreach efforts to promote peac e and disarmament.

Related Documents

Database of the reports of the Secretaries-General on the activities undertaken by the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa from 1995 to 2018.