Burkina Faso: Senior national authorities validate SALW physical security and stockpile management standard operating procedures

The United Nations Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) has developed a set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the safe and secure management and stockpiling of small arms, light weapons and ammunition for use by the security sector in of Burkina Faso. These SOPs were developed within the framework of the UNREC-led Physical Security and Stockpile Management –PSSM Sahel project are designed to help reduce the risk of diversion and illicit trade in small arms, light weapons and their ammunition. They are based on the International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) and the International Ammunitions Technical Guidelines (IATG), as well as on the standards adopted by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The workshops to validate the SOPs were organized in collaboration with the Burkina Faso National Commission on small Arms and Light Weapons were held from 10-13 October 2017 in Ouagadougou. They brought together more than forty five senior national officials (political and technical experts) to review the SOPs and to reflect on the current security situation and concerns in Burkina Faso.

The SOPs are expected to be adopted as Burkina Faso’s national standard operating procedures on physical security and stockpile management. The Regional Centre will continue to support the Burkina Faso authorities in rolling out the SOPs throughout the country.