The Chairperson of the EAC Council of Ministers, Hon. Hafsa Mossi and the Head of Development Cooperation for the European Union Delegation to Tanzania, Mr Enrico Strampelli, today handed over seven arms marking machines, five vehicles and other small arms control and office equipment to the five Partner States at a ceremony held at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. The occasion took place on the sidelines of the 21st Ordinary EAC Council of Ministers meeting.

Burning fire Arms in Uganda

EAC procured the equipment worth 270,000 euros through the Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) component of the Conflict Prevention and Management Resolution programme funded by the European Union (EU).

Hon. Mossi, who is Burundi’s Minister for EAC, and Mr Strampelli emphasised that the machines and equipment would facilitate the efforts of the Partner States in meeting the envisaged deadline, of December 2011, set by the EAC Council of Ministers to complete the arms marking exercise in the Partner States.

Hon. Mossi urged Partner States to make optimal use of the equipment and help to control proliferation of illegal small arms in the region, saying “a safe and peaceful East Africa will attract investors and spur economic development”.

The Council Chairperson thanked the European Union for its relentless support to the EAC activities and noted that the EAC Partner States were all State Parties to the UN Tracing instrument, which requires countries to undertake remarking of all state-owned and licensed arms to enhance traceability and strengthen stockpile management.

The European Union (EU) representative, Mr Enrico Strampelli, said that the support to EAC, meant to build capacity of the National Focal Points, is one of many activities that reflect the EU’s commitment to the Africa-EU partnership on peace and security.

The EU commended the EAC for its regional efforts on small arms control, noting that small arms trafficking cannot be fully controlled by individual countries. He said illicit trade and trafficking is nourished by discrepancies in legal regimes and porous borders.

The EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Political Federation, Hon. Beatrice Kiraso added that the proliferation of small arms and light weapons is one of the biggest security challenges currently facing the East African countries. She particularly highlighted threats resulting from neighbouring countries in conflict situations.

Additional information

• The 10 million euro Conflict Prevention and Management Resolution (CPMR) programme, financed by the EU, started in April 2006. It is a regional programme implemented by IGAD, COMESA and EAC covering the East and Southern African region.

• The overall objective of the programme is to enhance the capacity of the three implementing regional organisations (IGAD, COMESA and EAC) in exercising their CPMR mandates and activities within a consistent and coordinated continental and regional framework focusing on the key regional factors responsible for conflict proliferation.

• It is estimated that about 500,000 illegal small arms and light weapons are in circulation in East Africa.

• Some 300,000 to half a million people around the world are killed each year by small arms and light weapons. They are the major cause of civil casualties in modern conflicts.

• A decision of the 19th Meeting of the EAC Council of Ministers requires Partner States to complete the marking exercise by December 2011, and this necessitated the acquisition of additional marking equipment.

For more information please contact: Owora Richard Othieno, Ag. Head of Department; Corporate Communications and Public Affairs; Tel: +255 784 835021; Email: othieno@eachq.org