PRESS RELEASE:
Fissile material is a key component in the manufacture of nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. Therefore, a non-discriminatory, multilateral and international treaty banning the production of fissile material would represent a practical and significant contribution to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation efforts.

As part of its strategy against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the European Union and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), through the United Nations Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) is organizing a regional workshop on banning the Production of fissile material for the manufacture of nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices for West and Central African States in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea on 5 and 6 February 2019.

The aim of the workshop is to facilitate dialogue at the regional level among Member States on the implications of a future treaty and its relationship with already existing global and regional instruments. It will also facilitate the sharing of knowledge and information within the region on issues relevant to banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapon or other nuclear explosive devices.

The workshop will be attended by representatives of West and Central African countries from a ministry or agency involved in the management of Weapon of mass destruction issues and / or security issues/nuclear safety.

 For more information, please contact: UNREC), Tel: (+228) 22 53 50 00, E-mail: mail(at)unrec.org; www.unrec.org, www.facebook.unrec.org, www.tweeter.com/odaunrec

On 22-23 January 2019 in lomé, togo, UNREC hosted a high-level Partnership Meeting with the Regional Centre on Small Arms in the Great Lakes Region, the Horn of Africa and Bordering States (RECSA).
The delegation from RECSA was led by the Executive Secretary Lt.Gen. Badreldin Elamin Abdelgadir.

The focus of the meeting was to revitalize the Memorandum of Understanding signed between UNREC and RECSA in 2009 and to agree on a Road Map to strengthen collaboration between the two organizations. The parties agreed to continue developing and implementing programs, projects and initiatives under their respective mandates based on their respective comparative advantages in relation to peace, disarmament, the limitation of armaments and non-proliferation.

The technical working group composed of UNREC and RECSA experts has drafted a Road Map for joint action in the field of Physical Security and Stockpile Management (PSSM), the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), the United Nations Program of Action and Peace Education. The two organizations will enhance technical cooperation to advocate international standards such as the International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS/MOSAIC) and the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG).
Moreover, RECSA has invited UNREC to participate in the RECSA Council of Ministers Meeting as an observer.

More Photos from the Events

Le Gouvernement togolais, en collaboration avec l’Organisation mondiale des douanes, le Comité 1540 et le Centre régional des Nation Unies pour la paix et le désarmement en Afrique (UNREC), organise un atelier de 

renforcement des capacités des acteurs impliqués dans la mise en œuvre de la Résolution 1540 (2004) du Conseil de Sécurité des Nations Unies. L’atelier se tiendra au siège de l’UNREC du 23 au 25 janvier 2019.

Placé sous le thème « Renforcement de la mise en œuvre des contrôles nationaux relatifs au commerce stratégique dans le cadre de la résolution 1540 (2004) du Conseil de Sécurité », l’évènement est organisé grâce à l’appui financier de l’Union européenne et connaîtra la participation de vingt-cinq (25) délégués de divers services techniques impliqués dans la lutte contre la prolifération des armes de destruction massive au Togo.

Le présent atelier mettra au centre des échanges les contrôles nationaux relatifs au commerce des biens stratégiques. Le choix de ce thème n’est pas le fait du hasard, quand l’on sait que le Togo, grâce à son port, constitue un hub logistique et un couloir stratégique pour les échanges dans la sous-région ouest africaine. D’autre part, les groupes criminels qui prolifèrent de plus en plus dans la sous-région, utilisent des biens, équipements et technologies d’usage civil pour tenter de produire des armes biologiques, chimiques ou nucléaires.

Au cours de cet atelier, les participants seront outillés sur la relation d’interdépendance entre la Résolution 1540 (2004) et les contrôles d’exportation. Ils analyseront les progrès réalisés par le Togo dans la mise en œuvre de son plan d’action national et adopteront une « feuille de route » indiquant comment les partenaires, tels que l’Office des Nations Unies contre la drogue et le crime (ONUDC), l’Organisation mondiale des douanes (OMD) et l’Organisation pour l'interdiction des armes chimiques (OPCW) s’engageront à fournir une assistance au Togo au cours des prochaines années.

Le 28 avril 2004, le Conseil de sécurité de l'Organisation des Nations Unies a adopté à l’unanimité, en vertu du Chapitre VII de la Charte des Nations Unies, la résolution 1540 (2004) dans laquelle il a affirmé que la prolifération des armes nucléaires, chimiques et biologiques et de leurs vecteurs constitue une menace pour la paix et la sécurité internationales. Cette résolution en son article premier, impose aux Etats Membres, de « s’abstenir d’apporter un appui, quelle qu’en soit la forme, à des acteurs non étatiques qui tenteraient de mettre au point, de se procurer, de fabriquer, de posséder, de transporter, de transférer ou d’utiliser des armes nucléaires, chimiques ou biologiques ou leurs vecteurs ».

Dès son adoption, la Résolution 1540 (2004) a reçu un écho favorable auprès des autorités togolaises qui ont pris des dispositions pour sa mise en œuvre effective. Avec l’appui du Groupe des experts du Comité 1540, le Togo a procédé à l’élaboration de deux rapports de mise en œuvre ainsi que d’un plan d’action quinquennal pour la période 2016-2022.

Pour plus d'informations, veuillez contacter :
Ministère des Affaires Etrangères, de la Coopération et de l'intégration Africaine, Place Du Monument Aux Morts, Quartier Administratif – B.P. : 900, Lomé, Tel : (+228) 22 21 36 01

Centre régional des Nations Unies pour la paix et le désarmement en Afrique (UNREC), Tel : (+228) 22 53 50 00 E-mail : mail(at)unrec.org ; Web : www.unrec.org, www.facebook.unrec.org

The joint project to support the implementation of the Central African Convention for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, their ammunition and all Parts and Components that can be used for their Manufacture, Repair and Assembly, known as the Kinshasa Convention, was launched by the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the United Nations Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) and the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA)..

It was in N'Djamena, Chad, 7December, 2018, on the sidelines of the 47th ministerial meeting of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa (UNSAC).

The launching ceremony was marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between ECCAS, UNREC and UNOCA.

On behalf of their respective institutions, MM. Ahmad Allam-mi (Secretary General of ECCAS), François Louncény Fall (SRSG in Central Africa) and Anselme N. Yabouri (Director of UNREC) have thus formally committed to undertake joint actions and support initiatives aimed at "To prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit manufacture, excessive and destabilizing accumulation, illicit trafficking, possession and use of SALW".

Entered into force on March 8, 2017, the Kinshasa Convention remains an ideal framework to address the multidimensional threat of the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, as well as an effective instrument to facilitate the achievement of the objectives of the Agenda 2063 of the African Union (AU), which calls for "all arms to be silenced" by 2020. In the same spirit, it is an essential basis for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). , in particular Goal 16, which underlines the need to "significantly reduce illicit financial flows and arms trafficking" by 2030.

At the end of this project, it is hoped that the 4 remaining States namely Burundi, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo will have ratified the Convention, more than 300 copies of the Implementation Guide will be distributed, the States without National Commissions and National Action Plans will have complied with the provisions of the Convention, and that the legislative frameworks of the 11 States will be harmonized in accordance with international standards and guidelines for the control of weapons and ammunition.

The Arms Trade Treaty is an invaluable tool to promote cooperation, transparency and responsible action by States Parties in the arms trade. It also aims to prevent and eradicate the illicit trade in conventional arms and prevent their diversion to unauthorized users. It is noted that the arms trade often goes hand in hand with their diversion, their widespread and uncontrolled availability, and their illicit traffic.

In light of this, the Republic of Madagascar sought the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) technical assistance to support the Malagasy authorities in the implementation of the ATT, despite the fact that the political arena where factors such as general elections and other strategic considerations tend to generate conflicting priorities among political leaders, the authorities agreed that UNREC can conduct missions to help the country fulfill its commitments towards the ATT Secretariat.

The project funded by the ATT voluntary trust fund started by an exploration mission in Antananarivo, Republic of Madagascar in September 2018 in the framework of the launching of project related to: Appropriation of the ATT Issues for the National Authorities, the Private Sector and Civil Society. Conducted by the Director of UNREC, the aim of this mission was to inform, sensitize and advocate on the appropriation of the ATT by the government of Madagascar.

As recommendation, UNREC was requested to help Madagascar set up a national commission on fires arms. In this regard, the government of Madagascar in collaboration with UNREC organized from 20 to 23 November 208 a workshop on the appropriation of the ATT issues for the National Authorities, the Private Sector and Civil Society.

About 70 participants representing the Public Sector as well as Civil Society actors took part in this workshop. These include representatives of Cabinet of the Presidency and the Prime Minister of the Republic; National Assembly; Ministries in charge of National Defense, Foreign Affairs, Interior, Public Security, Justice, Finance and Budget, Transport, Education; the Independent National Commission for Human Rights; and the Private Sector. 

At the opening ceremony, the Minister of National Defense who was representing the Government of the Republic of Madagascar said that Madagascar will designate one or more national points of contact for the exchanging of information regarding treaty requirements and will draft a national legislation. He concluded by expressing its government gratitude to UNREC and the ATT Secretariat for their various support to help Madagascar fulfill its commitment as State Party to the treaty.

The closing ceremony was headed by the Secretary of State to the Minister of National Defense in charge of the Gendarmerie. He recognized that Madagascar is particularly conscious of the legally binding nature of the ATT and that its government is ready to draft a national law to update its fires arms law adopted since 1969 and establish a national committee named CONAMAD with the support of UNREC.

 A chronogram of future activities was also adopted; that includes: development of survey instruments to carry out the evaluation phase and also formulation of Terms of References for the final Evaluation Validation Workshop, drafting of a factsheet named “Comprendre le TCA” to be distributed during the validation workshop.

On 2 April 2013, Member States of the United Nations adopted the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) which entered into force on 24 December 2014. The ATT constitutes the first global, legally binding instrument to provide international standards for the international trade in conventional arms.

Le Centre régional des Nations Unies pour la paix et le désarmement en Afrique (UNREC) organise du 20 au 22 novembre 2018 à Dakar, au Sénégal, à l’hôtel Radisson Blu Sea Plaza, une conférence régionale d’évaluation des activités d’appui à la sécurité physique et à la gestion des stocks (PSSM) d’armements et de leurs munitions visant à lutter contre le détournement et le trafic illicite d'armes légères et de petit calibre (ALPC) dans la région du Sahel.

Cette conférence s’inscrit dans le cadre des activités du « Projet PSSM-Sahel » cofinancé par l’Union Européenne et le Bureau des Nations Unies pour les Affaires de désarmement (UNODA), qui concerne six pays du Sahel à savoir : le Burkina-Faso, le Mali, la Mauritanie, le Niger, le Nigeria et le Tchad. La mise en œuvre du projet a été confiée à l’UNREC, présence africaine de l’UNODA. 

Les différents participants à cette rencontre sont les autorités nationales des pays bénéficiaires du projet, des représentants des organisations régionales ou sous-régionales et des représentants des partenaires techniques de mise en œuvre du projet

Au cours de la conférence, les Commissions nationales de lutte contre la prolifération des ALPC et les partenaires techniques présenteront les activités menées dans chaque pays dans le cadre du projet « PSSM-Sahel », les experts de chaque pays échangeront et partageront les bonnes pratiques et les leçons apprises de leurs expériences respectives et réfléchiront à une possible stratégie PSSM commune. La conférence permettra également à l’UNREC de faire un bilan exhaustif du projet en identifiant les défis et proposera les perspectives futures dans la lutte contre la prolifération des ALPC.

Le projet PSSM au Sahel, qui entre dans sa phase d’évaluation finale, a permis en concertation avec les autorités nationales et avec l’appui de divers partenaires techniques, de procéder à la réhabilitation de sites de stockages d’armements, de renforcer les capacités en développant des procédures opérationnelles standards adaptées au contexte de chaque pays bénéficiaire et de former des techniciens qui formeront à leur tour les personnels en charge directe de la gestion physique des stocks gouvernementaux.

The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) Organized in the framework of the PSSM Project in the Sahel Region, implemented by UNODA through UNREC,a workshop on experimental technologies in Physical Security and Stockpile in Bamako, from 22 to 26 January 2018. The purpose of the workshop was to establish a long-term roadmap on the use of new technologies to reduce the risk of diversion from Government stockpiles and storage sites.

The workshop brought together representatives from National Commissions on SALW, defense and security forces, and Information Technology experts from Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Madagascar,
Niger, Nigeria and Togo as well as representatives from Regional and International organizations and private sector companies.

The rich profile of participants allowed the workshop to discuss the new technologies that could be implemented by national authorities to enhance the management of stockpiles and secure their arms and ammunition storage sites.

From 6 – 7 September, Libreville, Gabon, a working session was organized with the staff of UNOCA and ECCAS led respectively by SRSG François Louceny Fall, ECCAS Secretary General Ahmad ALLAM-MI and director Anselme Yabouri. This tripartite ECCAS-UNOCA-UNREC meeting paved the way for collaboration between UNREC and the Secretariat of ECCAS in the implementation of the project ‘Supporting the implementation of the Kinshasa Convention’. The project aims to support Central African states in addressing the various aspects of illicit proliferation of SALW, through the effective implementation of the Kinshasa Convention, in line with the vision of "Silencing the Guns in Africa 2020 "of the African Union (AU). More information: www.goo.gl/bmn4sx