This archive report was first published on 1 September 2019.
The proliferation of small arms in the region has raised concerns over their impact on civilians, but governments have been slow to ratify the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). The treaty came into force on December 24, 2014, after 50 countries ratified it.
Among the 15 countries affiliated to the Regional Centre for Small Arms (RECSA), only Seychelles and the Central African Republic have ratified the treaty. Burundi, Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Rwanda, and Tanzania have signed it, but have yet to ratify.
According to Gen (Rtd) Christo Fataki, director of International Development and Capacity Building, the RECSA region is lagging behind in ratification or accession to the treaty. He attributes this to a lack of commitment to addressing the root causes of arms proliferation.
“The challenge is that the magnitude of the menace caused by arms proliferation is too big compared with the commitment and efforts made to eradicate it. Countries within RECSA do not perceive arms proliferation and misuse as a security and development problems. More attention is given to redress measures and supply side rather than addressing prevention and demand factors,” said Gen Fataki.
Published on September 1, 2019, the article highlights the need for governments to ratify and implement the treaty, which has been signed by 130 countries and ratified by 104. In Africa, 39 countries have signed the ATT and 9 have ratified it.
