An ECOWAS delegation yesterday arrived in The Gambia to advocate for the quick ratification and the coming into force the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, their Ammunition and Related Materials.

On 14 June 2006, ECOWAS Heads of State and Government adopted the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons in Abuja, Nigeria. The sole aim of the Convention is to enthrone a culture of peace through the control of proliferation of SLAW in the sub region.

The mission will end on 25 October and the delegation will meet with and sensitise top officials of government in the Executive, Legislature, the Armed Forces, Police and Immigration. The delegation will also meet and exchange views with members of the Civil Society and the media.

In order for Convention to come into force, nine member states need to ratify it. At the moment, only Niger has ratified it although many others are in advanced stages of concluding the process. Ratification entails that the instrument be deposited by the Member State to the ECOWAS Commission.

Major General Charles Okae (rtd), Director of Peacekeeping and Regional Security is leading the delegation comprising Commandant Abdourahmane Dieng, Deputy Head, Small Arms Unit and Oluwafisan Bankale, Policy, Advocacy and Communications Officer of SAU/ECOSAP.

ECOWAS Commission had in the past embarked on similar missions to Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’ Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Senegal and Togo.