15/2/2002
European Government Aid Helps Rid Central African Republic of Illegal Weapons

Germany and Norway are important contributors to a new United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) project aimed at cutting the number of small arms and light weapons available in the Central African Republic (CAR), one of the poorest African countries and one which has regularly been racked by one conflict after another in the past.

In contrast to previous disarmament initiatives, the CAR programme will not only collect weapons, but will also offer support to create jobs for those turning them in. The first phase of the initiative, recently launched by CAR's Prime Minister Martin Ziguele, aims to collect some 4,000 small arms, providing vocational training and facilitating employment opportunities for 400 people who have surrendered weapons.

A public awareness campaign, organised by local disarmament committees established in all districts in the country, will encourage people to turn in weapons voluntarily. "Disarmament and arms collection are part of the political, psychological and cultural changes required for peace building and conflict resolution," says Kingsley O. Amaning, officer-in-charge of the UNDP country office, which is overseeing the programme.

Since 1996, the Central African Republic has been torn by several army mutinies and attempted coups. The ensuing unrest has driven 80,000 people from their homes and some 1,000 soldiers and 20,000 civilians are still in exile in neighbouring countries. Another legacy is many thousands of illegally held weapons. The new disarmament and arms collection programme is a vital step towards curbing the threat that small arms pose to peace and security, say UNDP.