Organized by the UN Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Africa, the workshop brings together representatives from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Chad.
The interim report was based on a study of the SALW situation in the Sahel with a view of promoting joint interventions and increased coordination as well as coming up with a regional approach beyond the actions of specific countries.
The forum in the Togolese capital will also be used to analyse quantitative and qualitative information on light weapons in the specific geographic zone, as well as to determine the nature of appropriate initiatives to be taken to overcome the complex challenges linked to proliferation of such weapons.
The project which was funded by Japan, was first executed between September and November 2015, and it focused on the nine countries within the Sahel region.
Sahel countries remain vulnerable to destabilizing effects of insecurity resulting from armed conflicts, terrorist activities and other forms of illegal trafficking.
Recent crises in Libya, Mali, Northern Nigeria and the Central African Republic have served to exacerbate the situation.
UN Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Africa whose headquarters is in Lome, was established on Oct. 24, 1986 in conformity with the Resolution No. 40/151G of Dec. 16,1985 of the UN General Assembly. Enditem
Source: Xinhua
