ECOWAS and UNIDIR Launch Critical Weapons Management Assessment in Senegal to Strengthen Regional Security.
By Raymond Enoch.
Senegal became the focal point of an ambitious effort to bolster national and regional security as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in collaboration with the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), launched a Weapons and Ammunitions Management (WAM) baseline assessment.
The main objective of this strategic initiative is to enhance coordination and capacity at the national level in managing arms and munitions, a critical step in addressing the rampant issue of illicit arms proliferation across West Africa. The evaluation aims to reinforce Senegal’s ability to combat the spread of small arms and light weapons (SALW) and their ammunition, while also developing a robust national framework for weapons management.
In his opening speech, Colonel Crespin Arsène Sambou, Permanent Secretary of Senegal’s Small Arms and Light Weapons Commission (COMNAT/ALPC), praised the ECOWAS Commission and UNIDIR for their vital role in hosting the evaluation in Senegal, underscoring the importance of collaboration in this area. He also invited participants to share successful arms management practices from their respective countries.
Mohamed Lamine Coulibaly, a researcher with UNIDIR’s conventional arms and ammunition program, highlighted the significance of the assessment for strengthening Senegal’s technical capacity to manage its weapons stockpile, emphasizing that international cooperation was crucial to tackling the proliferation of SALW in the region.
Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, conveyed the organization’s commitment to supporting its member states in creating and implementing effective arms control strategies. His message was delivered by Her Excellency Mrs. Zelma FASSINOU, the ECOWAS Resident Representative in Senegal.
The Minister for Armed Forces of Senegal, represented by Mrs. Mame Madior SOW, emphasized the assessment’s importance to both national security and regional stability. She acknowledged the invaluable work of ECOWAS and its partners, including the Senegalese Small Arms and Light Weapons Commission, in promoting peace and security across the region.
The results of this assessment will help identify strengths and areas for improvement in Senegal’s arms management systems, providing the foundation for the revision and development of a new national roadmap. This will align the country’s practices with international standards and further support ECOWAS’s overarching strategy to prevent the illicit circulation of weapons and ammunition.
As the global community intensifies its focus on arms control in West Africa, this crucial partnership between ECOWAS, UNIDIR, and Senegal signals a pivotal step toward strengthening the region’s capacity for peace and security.
