Increasing momentum for action on small arms in Eastern Africa

A series of meetings, conferences and research visits have brought African, EU and Chinese officials, civil society actors and researchers together to discuss joint action on small arms proliferation in South Sudan and across Eastern Africa.

From 24-29 June, conventional arms experts from Africa, China and the EU met in South Sudan to conduct a fact-finding mission to deepen their understanding of the impact of the illicit trade in, and excessive accumulation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) and ammunition in the country. The meeting of the Saferworld-supported Africa-China-EU Expert Working Group on Conventional Arms (EWG) also examined practical actions the international community can take to help authorities in South Sudan tackle the problem.

“In our conversations with policymakers, parliamentarians, police and army leaders in Juba, we found that whilst the political will to address the problem of SALW is there, there exists a distinct lack of capacity to act upon this will,” says Major General Daniel Deng Lual of South Sudan, a member of the EWG.

Senior Colonel Ouyang Wei of the National Defense University in Beijing adds that “this type of fact-finding mission is very helpful. Only through direct contacts with the people on the ground are we able to understand the seriousness of the situation. Now it is time to think about what specific assistance China and other external actors can provide.”

Four members of the EWG – which was established in 2012 to promote dialogue and common approaches to tackle conventional arms-related issues – conducted in-depth consultations with key South Sudanese government officials, parliamentarians, leading army, police and security personnel, and representatives of South Sudanese and international civil society organisations. These took place both in the capital Juba and the towns of Terekeka (Central Equatoria State) and Bor (Jonglei State). The EWG members listened to these actors’ assessments of the challenges caused by the proliferation of SALW in South Sudan and their perspectives on how the country can cooperate with external actors, such as the EU and China in addressing these issues.

From 2-3 July, Saferworld widened the debate holding a two-day Regional Conference on Tackling illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons and Ammunition in Eastern Africa. The conference, which was held under the aegis of the Africa-China-EU EWG, and supported by the EU, was held in Nairobi and was co-hosted by the Africa Peace Forum and Saferworld, in cooperation with the Kenya National Focal Point on Small Arms and the Regional Centre on Small Arms (RECSA). The seminar was attended by high-profile officials from the Kenyan government, police and armed forces, and representatives from regional organisations such as RECSA and the East African Community (EAC), as well as international researchers, civil society actors, and several foreign diplomats.

Following three prior meetings of the Africa-China-EU EWG, the main objective of this conference was to share key issues and challenges relating to the proliferation of SALW in Eastern African and identify practical projects on the ground requiring external assistance. The seminar included keynote speeches and commentaries by leading figures and senior experts from Eastern Africa, Europe and China on conventional arms controls. Six individual sessions were followed by question-and-answer periods. Preliminary findings from the EWG’s field research trip to South Sudan the previous week were also presented at the conference.

For more information on Saferworld’s China Programme, please contact Bernardo Mariani, China Programme Manager.

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“Only through direct contacts with the people on the ground are we able to understand the seriousness of the situation”

Senior Colonel Ouyang Wei, National Defense University, Beijing