A staggering sum of “US$18 billion” is lost to wars and conflicts in Africa annually, an expert research reveals.

This colossal economic loss to armed conflicts was unearthed in a joint research by the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA). The research document is entitled Africa’s Missing Billions.

Pamela Cole, national network coordinator of the West African Network for Peacebuilding (Wanep) confirmed this startling figure at a one-day experience-sharing forum organised within the ambit of sub-regional framework on small arms and light weapons programme.

“Weapos in civilian hands account for 650 millions of firearms around the world,” the Wanep national coordinator informed the gathering of experts at the Kairaba Beach Hotel on Thursday, while reflecting on the statistics contained in the 2007 Edition on Small Arms Survey.

“The figure leaves no room for complacency in this fight. As more civilians fall victims to small arms, the intervention of civilians in this fight in The Gambia - even though it has a long history of peace and stability - and elsewhere is justified and has to be relentless”, she said.

The forum revolved around the outcome of the Canada Fund for Africa-backed two and half year long Sub-regional Programme on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SRP-SALW)) implemented in Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau, Senegal, and The Gambia, to combat the proliferation and circulation of small arms and light weapons. The recurrent situation of tension in some of these countries, the mass movement of people and goods between countries and their porous borders exposed them to the problem.

The new programme - estimated to the tune of US$12 million - focuses on security and development. This generated an avalanche of reflections from participants who gave the concept document a sound direction. Lessons that cropped up from the pilot project also provided valuable resource to the programme.

Commenting on the significance of the forum, Ms Cole said the illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons poses a significant threat to peace and security.

“This menace continues to ravage communities and stifle efforts rendering the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) seemingly unattainable,” she said.

Joseph Jasseh, permanent secretary at the Department of State for Defense, expressed similar sentiments. PS Jasseh renewed Government’s commitment towards the consolidation of peace in the country and lauded Wanep’s efforts in this process.

Musa Dabal, representative of Ecowas, said small arms have become a scourge and source of colossal destruction to life and property. He observed that blacksmiths have a share in this menace as some manufacture improvised weapons that can kill.

Mr Dabal reinforced Ecowas resolve to the cause and called on all stakeholders to step forward against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.