EAST AFRICA CO-OPERATION
Chair: Wilbert Kaahwa, Legal Adviser, EAC
Rapporteur Prof Kibuka, Deputy Director, UNAFRI

The working group endorsed the proposals to enhance the capacity of the EAC in the draft subregional action programme and emphasised the following as priority areas:

Enlarging membership: The EAC is in advanced negotiations to admit Rwanda and Burundi. This will increase the impact of any initiatives the EAC takes to tackle small arms proliferation.



Harmonising legal controls: The EAC has established a legal framework which has been tasked with the harmonisation and standardisation of legislation in specific areas. This could facilitate the standardisation of legislation on firearms control. The group proposed that the EAC should adopt a legal protocol on firearms control.



Linking with the police: The EAC has an interstate committee on security. The group recommended that the police chiefs of EAC countries should be included in the committee. This would be an appropriate forum to discuss the control and regulation of firearms-trafficking.



Resource needs: The EAC’s capacity needs to be enhanced to enable it to fulfil its potential to play a role in tackling small arms proliferation. The group proposed that the EAC should have increased funds, personnel (training, hiring experts, maintaining a secretariat) and equipment for this important role.



Co-ordination: The group stressed the importance of co-ordinating the activities of different actors in the subregion. It was proposed that the EAC should develop links with IGAD, COMESA and the Nairobi Secretariat. The role of civil society was emphasised by the group and it was agreed that the EAC should work closely with the ISS, Saferworld, the SRIC and UNAFRI. As the police will be the implementing agency for many activities, it is important that the EAC develops close co-operation with the Interpol Subregional Bureau in Nairobi.

EASTERN AFRICA POLICE CHIEFS COMMITTEE
Chair: Assistant Commissioner Kimundi, Head: Interpol Subregional Bureau, Nairobi
Rapporteur: Col Kitiku, Deputy Director, SRIC

The working group agreed that EAPCCO has a key role to play in steering the development and implementation of a subregional action programme to tackle the proliferation of small arms. EAPCCO has the potential to play this leading role as it has a mandate from 11 countries, a committee structure and a special small arms desk.

The group supported the proposals in the draft subregional action programme to enhance the capacity of EAPCCO and stressed the importance of the following:

Political will: An encouraging indication of political support for action in this area is the Nairobi Declaration.



A legal framework for operations: A formal constitution and an agreement of co-operation are very important. These will hopefully be agreed to at the police chiefs meeting in Khartoum in June 2000.



Financial assistance: Resources are needed to support the convening of regular conferences, workshops and training. These are important to build trust and increase expertise.



Co-operation with other subregional organisations: Memoranda of understanding should be developed between EAPCCO, the EAC, IGAD and the Nairobi Secretariat. Each organisation should be granted observer status at others’ meetings.



Increased operational capacity: Equipment is needed to enable joint crossborder operations.

INTER-GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY ON DEVELOPMENT
Chair: Dr Kipyego Cheluget, Chief, Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution, IGAD
Rapporteur: Andrew McLean, Saferworld-ISS Liaison Officer

The working group agreed that IGAD should play a leading role in the development and implementation of a subregional action programme to tackle the proliferation and illicit trafficking of small arms. The group decided that IGAD had three strengths and that it should focus on activities in these areas:

Conflict prevention, management and resolution: IGAD has an explicit mandate to pursue initiatives in this area.



Development: One of the main objectives of IGAD is economic and social development and it has a key role to play in this regard.



Links to the donor community: IGAD has excellent links to donor governments through the its Partners’ Forum. Opportunities should be maximised.

The group discussed the possibility of an effective division of labour developing between IGAD and EAPCCO (as happened in Southern Africa between SADC and SARPCCO) with the police dealing with operational and law enforcement issues, while IGAD concentrates on political and development areas.

The group strongly supported the proposals for IGAD made in the draft subregional action programme and suggested the following specific measures to facilitate their implementation:

Political support: Small arms should be discussed by the Council of Ministers with the objective to identify IGAD’s precise role in tackling the issue.



Co-ordination with the police: IGAD should organise a workshop for police chiefs and law enforcement agencies in the subregion to discuss action to tackle small arms issues. This should be done in co-ordination with EAPCCO. The Interpol Subregional Bureau should be involved in the development of the conflict and early warning mechanism (CEWARN).



Demobilisation and reintegration: IGAD should undertake or commission research on past experiences of demobilisation and reintegration in member states with a view to identify lessons learned. This should also seek to identify potential future needs in the region when current conflicts come to an end. IGAD should take a lead role in supporting all national demobilisation and reintegration efforts.



Economic and social development: IGAD should undertake or commission research on the needs of marginalised communities, particularly those living in border areas. IGAD should support the development of infrastructure and viable economies. There is a clear link to IGAD’s infrastructure development and agricultural work.



Weapons collection and exchange programmes: IGAD should encourage the establishment of ‘weapons for development’ programmes.



Public education programmes: The group proposed that this could be a key area for IGAD. It should support the establishment of national and regional campaigns to raise awareness of the dangers of small arms proliferation and action which could be taken to stop it.



Establishing a legal treaty: IGAD should encourage the establishment of a legal protocol or treaty on firearm control, as is under way in the SADC region.



IGAD Partners’ Forum: The IGAD Secretariat should ensure that small arms is on the agenda of the next IPF meeting. The objective could be to develop a joint strategy with donors to address the issue.



Co-ordination: Memoranda of understanding should be developed between IGAD, the EAC and EAPCCO (one has already been agreed with COMESA). A meeting should be convened for IGAD, COMESA, EAC and EAPCCO to discuss their complementary roles in tackling the proliferation of small arms and the need for a comprehensive strategy.

NAIROBI SECRETARIAT
Chair: Philip Owade, Head: Legal Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kenya
Rapporteur: Virginia Gamba, Head: Arms Management Programme, ISS

The Nairobi Secretariat is a new body that has been established to facilitate the implementation of the Nairobi Declaration. It has the challenge of covering a broad geographic area where the states parties are members of different subregional organisations.

Role

The working group proposed the following roles for the secretariat:

follow-up on particular measures outlined in the Nairobi Declaration;



facilitate the creation of an action programme for signatories to the declaration; the secretariat must ensure that all the items of the declaration are reflected in the action programme;



facilitate the creation of an implementation plan to accompany the action programme;



facilitate the establishment of the parameters of the study “on the problem of illicit arms within the region and to draw up appropriate programmes for the collection and destruction of illicit small arms and light weapons”;



monitor the implementation of the action programme in co-operation with implementing agencies, national contact points and other subregional organisations; the secretariat should facilitate a co-ordination meeting between implementing agencies;



formulate and co-ordinate extensive public awareness programmes among governments, subregional organisations, NGOs and civil society on the objectives, programme and implementation of the Nairobi Declaration; and



encourage and facilitate civil society/NGO/government interaction in the fight against small arms proliferation.

Needs

For the Nairobi Secretariat to function effectively, it requires the following:

ministerial or senior official meetings of the EAC, EAPCCO and IGAD to declare their support for the Nairobi Declaration and endorse the facilitation role of the secretariat;



all subregional organisations to issue a declaration about their intention to take action to tackle small arms proliferation; and



the action programme to be approved as quickly as possible, preferably not later than April 2001; it should contain a formal role for the secretariat on all issues of follow-up, facilitation and monitoring outlined above.

Co-ordination

The working group proposed the creation of national focal points on small arms in all participating states. These focal points would be responsible for liaison with the secretariat, as well as the secretariats of the subregional organisations on the small arms issue.



The ten national focal points and three subregional organisations should meet with the secretariat twice a year at a minimum to co-ordinate implementation and review progress.

DISCUSSION

Co-ordination and development of an effective division of labour

There was an extensive discussion on the best way to avoid duplication and ensure complementarity in the efforts of different actors. A possible division of labour was proposed for the subregional organisations:

EAPCCO could focus on operational issues and on implementing the measures outlined in pillar two of the Kampala draft subregional action programme.



EAC could focus on establishing and strengthening legal controls and the measures outlined in pillar one of the Kampala draft subregional action programme.



IGAD could focus on the development, education and demobilisation issues outlined in pillar three of the Kampala draft subregional action programme.



The Nairobi Secretariat could play a co-ordinating and facilitating role.

Working with the media

The role of the media in raising awareness and stimulating political will was stressed. Yet, it was agreed that they had so far been neglected in initiatives within the subregion. It was proposed that a specific meeting for the media should be convened to involve them in the issue.