Disarmament in Review
(New York) On 27 February 2019, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu met with Lt. Gen. Badreldin Elamin Abdelgadir, Executive Secretary of the Regional Centre on Small Arms in the Great Lakes Region, the Horn of Africa and Bordering States (RECSA). The visit by the Executive Secretary of RECSA was timely as the Security Council was discussing cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in maintaining international peace and security on the same day.
RECSA is an intergovernmental organizations in Nairobi established in June 2005 with the objective of providing support for the implementation of the “Nairobi Protocol” to prevent the illicit manufacturing of, trafficking in, possession and use of small arms and light weapons. In 2009, UNODA and RECSA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which identified possible areas of cooperation and joint activities. In a visit to UNODA’s regional centre in Africa (UNREC) in January 2019, both sides agreed on a “Roadmap for Cooperation” to revitalize the MoU and deepen the UNREC-RECSA partnership towards peace, security and disarmament in Africa.
Against this backdrop, High Representative Nakamitsu underscored areas for close collaboration between UNODA and RECSA on implementing the Secretary-General’s Disarmament Agenda and invited RECSA to support its Member States to strengthen their action on excessive and poorly-managed ammunition stockpiles and to continue its work on curbing the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. She also emphasized the Secretary-General’s effort to establish a dedicated facility (SALIENT) to support government action to tackle small arms and light weapons to address armed violence and the diversion of weapons. Executive Secretary Abdelgadir elaborated on the priorities of RECSA for 2019 and 2020. High Representative and Executive Secretary exchanged views on ways and means to further strengthen the already established partnership.
