Cotonou-Benin. Given the persistent security challenges in West Africa, including in the Sahel and the extension of the terrorist threat towards the Gulf of Guinea, particularly linked to the proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW), UNODC, through its Global Firearms Programme (GPF), continues to work with countries in the sub region in order to combat illicit firearms trafficking.
As part of these efforts, UNODC organized from 02 to 06 October 2023 in Cotonou, Benin, a regional meeting to address the spill over of firearms from Sahel countries to coastal countries. The meeting gathered participants from Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea, Mali and Mauritania.
The meeting included a capacity building component, with a focus on a training of trainers on various relevant subjects including: detection, intelligence gathering, investigation and criminal prosecution of offenses linked to illicit trafficking of firearms and related crimes, identification, recordkeeping and tracing weapons and ammunitions, and inter agency cooperation, among others.
The opening ceremony was chaired by Mr. Dansou Cossou Antoine, representative of Benin Ministry of Public Security; Mr. Salvador Niyonzima, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations and Humanitarian Coordinator in Benin; and his Excellency Doctor Stefan Buchwald, German Ambassador in Benin. During the opening, the speakers highlighted the importance of cross border cooperation to work efficiently in the fight against illicit firearms trafficking.
National experts from the six countries included magistrates, investigators and members of national agencies in charge of firearms matters. The meeting and training were facilitated by UNODC as well as by national experts.
This initiative was made possible with the support of the German Republic through the project “Countering illicit firearms trafficking and related crimes, including terrorism – a regional approach”.
