…calls for effective security sector reform and disarmament
As Africans mark the Africa Union’s day, the Nigeria chapter of the Africa Union, Economic, Social and Cultural Council (AU-ECOSOCC) has called on all citizens of Africa to be united against all forms of violence and insecurity in the continent.
Saying there is the need for effective security sector reform and disarmament, demobilization and re-integration programmes in countries emerging from conflict.
The Nigeria Representative in the 3rd general Assembly of the Council, and the Corporate Affairs director of Concern Nigeria Youth Development Organisation, (CNYDO), Mr. Oba Olasunkanmi A. John, while addressing the press on Tuesday in Abuja as part of activities to mark the day, said member states of regional centre on Small Arms (RECSA) must ratify the protocol and expand the mandate of (RECSA) to deal on the issue of the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Africa.
Oba said if the guns are notSilence in Africa, there will be no conducive conditions for Africa to Development. He therefore called on the leaders and the led to work together to ensure that the AU theme of the year, ‘Silencing the Guns, creating conducive condition for Africa Development,’ is achieved.
“It could be recalled that the Africa Union within the context of its master roadmap practical steps to silence the Guns in Africa by the Year 2020, the 29thOrdinary Session of the Assembly of the Union, held on 3-4 July 2017 in Addis Ababa, adopted decision Assembly/AU/Dec.645(XXXiX) to declare the month of September of reach year, till 2020, as Africa Amnesty month for the surrender an collection of illicit small arms and light weapons.
“And since May 25 is the Africa Day, it is pertinent to ensure that all lay down their arms and weapons so that the Africa Union Agenda 2063 is feasible.”
He however, said African leaders must explore the economic solutions and youth empowerment to ensure that peace reign in the continent. “It is time Africans look within and adopt indegeneous solution to bring lasting peace to the continent.
Stressing the importance of promoting and supporting the involvement of youths and women in addressing the problem of proliferation and use of illegal weapons, as well as movement of illegal weapons and other illicit goods, Obaunderscores the need to establish regional research institutions where they do not exist, considering that sound analytical and empirical research on weapons/arms proliferation will better equip the leadership with adequate information to facilitate decision making.
He empasises the need to address root causes of conflicts, as well as undertaking effective security sector reform and disarmament, demobilization and re-integration programmes in countries emerging from conflict, in order to avoid relapse and fresh exposure to inflow of illegal weapons and violence, as well as to trafficking of other illicit goods.
He therefore charged AU Member States to speed up signing and ratification of the Arms Trade Treaty adopted the UN General Assembly on 2 April 2013, which has the potential to play an important role in silencing the guns in Africa.
