Delegates to the UNDP-backed first sub-regional civil society-sensitive consultative forum on small arms have discussed and adopted a communiqué sanctioning Ecowas member states to speedily ratify the Ecowas Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons among many other issues.   

This communiqué is the outcome of a two-day sub-regional forum held at Hotel Ivoire in Abidjan, jointly-organised by the West African Action Network on Small Arms (Waansa) and the Ecowas Small Arms and Control Programme (Ecosap). The forum saw delegates from the 14 Ecowas member states who brainstormed on the jointly developed Civil Society Small Arms and Light Weapons-Sensitive Harmonised Implementation Action Plan for 2007, in conformity with the Accra Regional Implementation Action Plan 2007. The Gambian delegation was led by Pamela Cole, National Coordinator of West Africa Network for Peace-building (Wanep).

Delegates stressed the need for strong partnership between the National Commissions on Small Arms and Light Weapons (Natcoms) and Waansa-led national civil society organisations coalition in the implementation of prioritised activities, aligned with the 2007 Regional Implementation Action Plan in the following strategic policy areas: advocacy for the ratification of the Ecowas convention, conducting research related to data and statistics on small arms and light weapons (SALWs) in West Africa, and strengthening SALWs –CSOs’ institutional coordination frameworks at the national and sub-regional level.

In a two-page communiqué - jointly signed by Baffour Dokyi Amoa, President of Waansa and Jonathan Sandy, Programme Manager of Ecosap, delegates expressed the relevance of institutionalising the working relationship between key stakeholders (CSOs, NGOs, the National Commissions on Small Arms Control, Ecowas Small Arms Unit) and the Ecosap Regional Programme Management Team in Bamako, Mali.
Calling on Waansa to partner with civil society and strategic partners in the sub-region to enhance the vision and mission of Ecowas, the delegates implored on Waansa to play a coordinating role for civil society across the sub-region and present civil society coalitions with expertise on small arms control, peace and security.

They also expressed the need for Waansa to serve as the medium through which capacity building for national civil society coalitions can take place with a view to improve their ability to contribute to the implementation of Ecosap activities. The forum tasked Waansa, alongside national civil society coalitions to advocate the provision of technical and financial assistance, through the Ecosap funding mechanism to support and complement activities of Natcoms in the member states, in line with the Ecowas Convention, the UN Forearms Protocol and other international instruments.

 The sub-regional delegates also called on the international, regional and sub-regional CSOs and NGos to work in close partnership with Ecosap/ Ecowas SAU and Waansa, Iansa, Wanep, Safer World, Safer Africa, Amnesty International, Wacsof, PANAFSTRAG, Oxfam, among others, on matters relating to the fight against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. The forum then seized the opportunity to encourage civil society organisations and the people of La Cote d’Ivoire to support the peace agreement of 4th March 2007 in Ouagadougou, which is currently being implemented with the help of the international community.

Closing

Formally closing the forum last Thursday, Amadou Kone, Ivorian Minister of African Integration, lauded the delegates for their participation in the forum and then commended Ecowas and sub-regional leaders for their solidarity with La Cote d’Ivoire, as the peace process continues to bear fruition.

Mr. Kone expounded on the importance of peace in the socio-economic integration of the sub-region, adding that this was the basis on which Ecowas was founded. He expressed the resolve of Ecowas leaders and governments to forge a stronger organisation, noting this was why each Ecowas member state is required to establish a ministry of integration.

According to him, the sub-region is endowed with what it takes to integrate and enhance the living conditions of a population of 300 million West Africans. He said this dream sits at the heart of Ecowas.

However, Minister Kone believed that the realisation of this dream will remain elusive, if the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the sub-region is not tackled. According to him, the circulation of small arms and light weapons has engendered into organised banditry and criminality in the sub-region, saying this situation undermines peace and security in the region. He observed that most of these armed gangs are now resorting to the use of sophisticated firearms, which they use in their operations and sometimes confront security arms of governments.

He affirmed the urgent need for coordinated and coherence approach to combat illegal firearms in circulation. He stressed the importance of unshackling the sub-region of this menace for the rapid integration of the Ecowas member states.
The Ivorian Minister assured his government’s support to the cause of Waansa and Ecosap, as well as the effective functioning of the Natcom of La Cote d’Ivoire. "We will provide all the support to the commission. We will play our full role within the framework of Ecosap," Amadou Kone assured.

Way forward

At the end of the forum, delegates agreed to mobilise civil society of their respective Ecowas member states to support the implementation of the action plan within the framework of Waansa and Ecosap. Each delegation to the forum is expected to hold a debriefing session for its civil society and other stakeholders.
Delegations are also expected to engage the media in a bid to reinforce the attainment of the outline goals, which included the ratification of the Ecowas Convention. All the national delegations pledged to draw their shoulders to the wheel for the attainment of the common goals.