UN opens regional seminar in bid to prevent small arms trade in Central Africa

Senior government officials and representatives of civil society gathered today in the Republic of the Congo, for the opening of a United Nations seminar aiming to develop a road map to prevent and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in the Central African region.

The UN Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa - comprising 11 countries in the region - organized the two-day seminar to develop a plan for the implementation of the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UN PoA) in the region over the next two years.

The road map will also constitute the contribution of the Central African region to the First Biennial Meeting of States on the Implementation of the PoA, to be held in July at UN Headquarters in New York.

Following the seminar on Wednesday, the Committee will kick-off its ministerial meeting to review the current geopolitical and security situation in the region, with particular emphasis on Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, Chad and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In addition, participants will review the implementation by Member States of previous recommendations and decisions. They will also look into ways and means of strengthening cooperation between the United Nations and the Central African States.