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UN voices concern over arms surge in West Africa

by Staff Writers
 Niamey (AFP) May 15, 2008
 The UN expressed concern Thursday at a meeting of West African states that a rise in the number of illicit light weapons was fuelling deadly conflicts and instability throughout the region.

The United Nations Development Programme was taking part in a two-day gathering in Niger's capital Niamey hosted by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and its 15 member states.

The meeting was looking at arms proliferation in neighbouring Benin, Niger and Nigeria and plans to allow them to share border patrols and information on arms smugglers.

UNDP spokeswoman Priya Gaja complained that "the lack of information" on arms trafficking had prevented the international community from helping ECOWAS to curb the worrying rise in available arms.

An estimated 10 million light weapons still circulate throughout the region, ECOWAS said.

The unstable Sahel-Saharan region stretching from northern Chad to Mauritania was particularly vulnerable, UN arms expert Omar Kande said.

Gaja recalled that the UN Security Council had already voiced concern in June 2007 over the increase in the smuggling of firearms and in gun attacks in West Africa.

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