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Bamako Declaration on an African Common Position
on the Illicit Proliferation,
Circulation and Trafficking of
Small Arms and Light Weapons
Ministerial Conference on the Illicit Proliferation,
Circulation and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons,
30 November-1 December 2000, Bamako, Mali
I. WE, THE MINISTERS of the Member States of the Organization
of African Unity met in Bamako, Mali, from 30 November to
1 December 2000, to develop an African Common Position on
the Illicit Proliferation, Circulation and Trafficking of
Small Arms and Light Weapons in preparation for the United
Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and
Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, scheduled to take place
in New York, from 9 to 20 July, 2001, in accordance with the
relevant United Nations General Assembly Resolutions. Our
meeting was held in pursuance of:
The Decision AHG/Dec. 137 (LXX), adopted by the 35th
Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government
held in Algiers, Algeria, from 12 to 14 July 1999, which called
for an African approach on the problems posed by the illicit
proliferation, circulation and trafficking of small arms and
light weapons, and for the convening of a Ministerial preparatory
conference on this matter prior to the holding of the United
Nations Conference; and the decisions adopted on this matter
by the Council of Ministers, at its 68th Ordinary
Session held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, from 1 to 6 June
1998 (CM/Dec. 432 (LXVIII), the 71st Ordinary Session
held In Adonis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 6 to 10 March 2000 (CM/Dec.
501 (LXXI), and the 72nd Ordinary Session held
in Lome, Togo, from 6 to 8 July 2000 (CM/Dec. 527 (LXXII);
II. WE HAVE CONSIDERED the reports of the Secretary General
on the preparation for the Ministerial Conference on the illicit
proliferation, circulation and trafficking of small arms and
light weapons, as well as the report of the first continental
meeting of African Experts and the International Consultation
on the illicit proliferation, circulation and trafficking
of small arms and light weapons, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,
from 17 to 19 May 2000, and from 22 to 23 June 2000, respectively.
III. In reviewing the situation of the illicit proliferation,
circulation and trafficking of small arms and light weapons,
WE RECOGNIZE the progress made at national and regional levels
in developing action programmes for the reduction, prevention
and management of small arms and light weapons proliferation.
In this regard, we welcome in particular, the ECOWAS Moratorium
of 31 October 1998, its accompanying Code of Conduct of 1999
and its plan of Action under the Programme for Coordination
and Assistance for Security and Development (PCASED); the
Nairobi Declaration adopted by the Ministers of the countries
of the Great Lakes and the Horn of Africa regions on 15 March
2000, and its Coordinated Agenda for Action and Implementation
Plan, the progress towards the signature of a SADC Declaration
and Protocol on Firearms and Ammunition and its Implementation
Programme as discussed in August 2000; the Djibouti Declaration
of the countries of the Horn of Africa and the Gulf of Aden
on antipersonnel landmines, of 18 November 2000; as well as
the efforts made by ECCAS Member States, within the framework
of the UN Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions
in Central Africa on the proliferation and illicit circulation
of small arms and light weapons in Central Africa.
IV. WE REAFFIRM our respect for international law and principles
as contained in the Charter of the United Nations, in particular,
the respect for national sovereignty, non-interference in
the internal affairs of Member States, the right to individual
and collective self-defense, as stated in Article 51 of the
UN Charter, the right of self determination of peoples and
the right of Member States to develop their own defense systems
to ensure national security.
V. WE HAVE DELIBERATED extensively on the various aspects
of the problem of the illicit proliferation, circulation and
trafficking of small arms and light weapons, and HAVE AGREED
on the following African Common Position on the illicit proliferation,
circulation and trafficking of small arms and light weapons:
1. WE EXPRESS OUR GRAVE CONCERN that the problem of the illicit
proliferation, circulation and trafficking of small arms and
light weapons continues to have devastating consequences for
stability and development in Africa. We recognize that this
problem:
i. sustains conflicts, exacerbates violence, contributes
to the displacement of innocent populations and threatens
international humanitarian law, as well as fuels and encourages
terrorism;
ii. promotes a culture of violence and destabilizes
societies by creating a propitious environment for criminal
and contraband activities, in particular, the looting of precious
minerals and the illicit trafficking In and abuse of, narcotic
drugs and psychotropic substances and endangered species;
iii. has adverse effects on security and development, especially
on women, refugees and other vulnerable groups, as well as
on infrastructure and property;
iv. also has devastating consequences on children, a number
of whom are victims of armed conflict, while others are forced
to become child soldiers;
v. undermines good governance, peace efforts and negotiations,
jeopardizes the respect for fundamental human rights, and
hinders economic development;
vi. relates to the combating and the eradication of the
illicit proliferation, circulation and trafficking of small
arms and light weapons, and control of their proliferation;
vii. is both one of supply and demand, transcends borders
and calls for cooperation at all levels: local, national,
regional, continental and international.
2. WE THEREFORE AGREE that, in order to promote peace, security,
stability and sustainable development on the continent, it
is vital to address the problem of the illicit proliferation,
circulation and trafficking of small arms and light weapons
in a comprehensive, integrated, sustainable and efficient
manner through:
i. ensuring that the behaviour and conduct of Member States
and suppliers are not only transparent but also go beyond
narrow national interests;
ii. the promotion of measures aimed at restoring peace,
security and confidence among and between States with a view
to reducing the resort to arms;
iii. the promotion of structures and processes to strengthen
democracy, the observance of human rights, the rule of law
and good governance, as well as economic recovery and growth;
iv. the promotion of conflict prevention measures and the
pursuit of negotiated solutions to conflicts;
v. the promotion of comprehensive solutions to the problem
of the illicit proliferation, circulation and trafficking
of small arms and light weapons that:
a. include both control and reduction, as well as supply
and demand aspects;
b. are based on the coordination and harmonization of the
efforts of Member States at regional, continental and international
levels;
c. involve civil society in support of the central role of
government, In this regard.
vi. the enhancement of the capacity of Member States to
identify, seize and destroy illicit weapons and to put in
place measures to control the circulation, possession, transfer
and use of small arms and light weapons;
vii. the promotion of a culture of peace by encouraging
education and public awareness programmes on the problem of
the illicit proliferation, circulation and trafficking of
small arms and light weapons, involving all sectors of society;
viii. the institutionalization of national and regional
programmes for action aimed at preventing, controlling and
eradicating the illicit proliferation, circulation and trafficking
of small arms and light weapons in Africa; and
ix. the respect for international humanitarian law.
3. WE RECOMMEND Member States should:
A. At the National Level
i) put in place, where they do not exist national coordination
Agencies or bodies and the appropriate institutional Infrastructure
responsible for policy guidance/ research and monitoring on
all aspects of small arms and light weapons proliferation,
control, circulation, trafficking and reduction;
ii) enhance the capacity of national law enforcement and
security Agencies and officials to deal with all aspects of
the arms problem, including appropriate training on investigative
procedures, border control and specialized actions, and upgrading
of equipment and resources;
iii) adopt, as soon as possible, where they do not exist,
the necessary legislative and other measures to establish
as a criminal offence under national law, the illicit manufacturing
of, trafficking in, and illegal possession and use of small
arms and light weapons, ammunition and other related materials;
iv) develop and implement, where they do not exist, national
programmes for:
- the responsible management of licit arms;
- the voluntary surrender of illicit small arms and light
weapons;
- the identification and the destruction by competent national
authorities and where necessary, of surplus, obsolete and
seized stocks in possession of the state, with, as appropriate,
international financial and technical support,
- the reintegration of demobilized youth and those who possess
small arms and light weapons illegally.
v) develop and implement public awareness programmes on the
problem of the proliferation and the illicit trafficking of
small am s and light weapons;
vi) encourage the adoption of appropriate national
legislation or regulations to prevent the breaching of international
arms embargoes, as decided by the United Nations Security
Council;
vii) take appropriate measure to control arms transfers by
manufacturers, suppliers, traders, brokers, as well as shipping
and transit agents, In a transparent fashion;
viii) encourage, where appropriate, the active involvement
of civil society in the formulation and implementation of
a national action plan to deal with the problem;
ix) enter into binding trilateral arrangements, on a voluntary
basis with nelghbouring countries, so as to put In place an
effective common system of control, including the recording,
licensing and collection of small arms and light weapons,
within common frontier zones.
B. At the Regional Level
i) Put In place, where they do not exist, mechanisms to coordinate
and harmonize efforts to address the illicit proliferation,
circulation and trafficking of small arms and light weapons;
ii) Encourage the codification and harmonization of legislation
governing the manufacture, trading, brokering, possession
and use of small arms and ammunition. Common standards could
include, but not be limited to, marking, record‑keeping
and controls governing imports, exports and the licit trade;
iii) Strengthen regional and continental cooperation among
police, customs and border control services to address the
illicit proliferation, circulation and trafficking of small
arms and light weapons. These efforts should include, but
not be limited to, training, the exchange of information to
support common action to contain and reduce illicit arms and
light weapons trafficking across borders/ and the conclusion
of the necessary Agreements in this regard;
iv) Ensure that the manufacturers and suppliers of illicit
small arms and light weapons, who violate global or continental
regulations on the issue, shall be sanctioned. Known brokers
and States which act as suppliers of illicitly acquired arms
and weapons to combatants in Member states, should equally
be sanctioned by the International community.
4. WE STRONGLY APPEAL to the wider international community
and, particularly, to arms supplier countries, to:
i) Accept that trade In small arms should be limited to governments
and authorized registered licensed traders;
ii) Actively engage, support and fund the effort; of OAU
Member States in addressing the problem of the illicit. proliferation,
circulation and trafficking of small arms and light weapons
in the continent;
iii) Seriously consider ways to discourage and eliminate
the practice of dumping excess weapons in African countries
and in violation of arms embargoes;
iv) Enact appropriate legislation and regulations to control
arms transfers by manufacturers, suppliers, traders, brokers,
shipping and transit agents;
v) Enact stringent lays, regulations and administrative procedures
to ensure the effective control over the transfer of small
arms and light weapons, including mechanisms with a view to
facilitating the identification of illicit arms transfers;
and
vi) Take full advantage of the forthcoming United Nations
Conference to make these commitments known.
5. WE CALL for international partnership to curb the illicit
proliferation, circulation and trafficking of small arms and
light weapons in Africa. In this regard,
i) WE APPEAL to international institutions to support initiatives
and programmers aimed at eradicating the illicit proliferation,
circulation and trafficking of small arms and light weapons.
In this regard, WE REITERATE the call as contained in the
relevant United Nations (general Assembly Resolutions for
financial and other appropriate support for the implementation
of these programmes;
ii) WE APPEAL to Governments, all sectors of civil society
and donor Agencies for the financial and technical support
to national programmes for the reintegration of demobilized
youths and those in illegal possession of small arms;
iii) WE CALL FOR close cooperation between the OAU, regional
economic communities, the United Nations Agencies, other international
organizations, in close association with civil society Organizations,
in addressing the elicit proliferation, circulation and trafficking
of small arms and light weapons;
iv) WE URGE OAU Member States, the United Nations, Regional
Organizations, Research Center, the civil satiety and the
international community as a whole, to develop and fund action
oriented research aimed at facilitating greater awareness
and better understanding on the nature and scope of the problem,
providing, whenever possible, a basis for continued advocacy
and action on prevention measures, and evaluating the impact
of these measures;
v) WE REQUEST that competent international Organizations
like INTERPOL, the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the
UN Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa, play
a more important role in the fight against the illicit proliferation,
circulation and trafficking of small arms and light weapons;
vi) WE ENCOURAGE all the Member States of the United Nations,
to accede to international legal instruments on terrorism
and international organized crime.
6. WE CALL for a realistic and implementable programme of
action during the 2001 United Nations Conference on the Illicit
Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects,
which will take place in New York, from 9-20 July 2001
and WE SUPPORT the efforts by the Chairman of the Preparatory
Committee in this regard.
7. WE UNDERTAKE to promote and defend this African common
position on the illicit proliferation, circulation and trafficking
of small arms and light weapons during the 2001 UN Conference
on the Illicit Trade In Small Arms and Light Weapons in all
its aspects.
8. WE REQUEST the Secretary General to follow up on the implementation
of the present Declaration and to present regular progress
reports to the Council of Ministers.
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