Djibouti (SONNA) –The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has intensified efforts to address the proliferation of small arms in the Horn of Africa through a high-level meeting in Djibouti. The discussions brought together key regional stakeholders to develop coordinated strategies against illicit arms trafficking.
Chaired by IGAD Deputy Executive Secretary H.E. Mohamed Abdi Ware, the meeting focused on implementing practical measures to reduce the flow of illegal weapons across borders. Participants from Kenya, Djibouti, and the Regional Centre on Small Arms (RECSA) examined current challenges in controlling small arms and explored enhanced cooperation mechanisms.
A central outcome was the agreement to strengthen joint border surveillance and intelligence-sharing operations. “The uncontrolled spread of small arms fuels conflicts and undermines development across our region,” stated H.E. Ware. “This meeting has established concrete steps toward more effective regional collaboration.”
The partners committed to three priority actions: improving cross-border coordination between security forces, increasing community awareness programs about the dangers of illicit weapons, and aligning their efforts with continental initiatives like the African Union’s Silencing the Guns campaign. These measures aim to disrupt trafficking networks while addressing the root causes of arms demand.
This meeting represents a significant advancement in regional security cooperation, building on existing frameworks to create more effective tools against small arms proliferation. The agreed actions will be implemented through IGAD’s conflict prevention architecture with support from member states and partners.
