Press Release

U.S. Government Assists In Enhancing Capacity For Tackling Small Arms And Light Weight Weapons (SALW) Proliferation In Southern Africa

The American Embassy in Windhoek and the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies invited the media to the opening ceremony of a workshop on enhancing capacity for tackling small and light weight weapons (SALW) proliferation in Southern Africa, at 09h30 on Monday, September 28, 2009, at the Safari Hotel and Conference Centre.  The Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy, Mr. Matt Harrington, delivered remarks at the event.

The Africa Center for Strategic Studies is conducting a series of five sub-regional workshops (one in each of Africa’s sub-regions) as a follow on to the 2004 All-Africa seminar on Small Arms and Light Weapons held in Uganda.  Following its sub-regional workshops in West Africa, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso in 2006 and in the Great Lakes region and in East Africa, in Kampala, Uganda in 2008, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies will conduct its third workshop on tackling illicit proliferation of SALW in Southern Africa.  This gathering will bring together mid- to senior-level civilian security and military officers from across the sub-regions, international experts, and European and American government officials, to focus on practical steps and measures to enhance sub-regional and national capacity to tackle the illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons.   

The illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons remains a pressing security challenge in Southern Africa. Not only do these weapons prolong the lives of several violent conflicts, but their uncontrolled spread within the sub-region poses a grave danger to domestic and regional security, and to long-term stability and development. It is a multi-dimensional problem that is deeply intertwined with other broader security issues and has implications for development.

Approximately 50 participants from the Southern Africa sub-region will participate.  Participants will be drawn from the security sector, including representatives from the military, the police, the Gendarmerie, and relevant government departments dealing with the problem of small arms and light weapons. Members of leading organizations from inside and outside the sub-region, academics and international experts, government officials from the United States and Europe, along with international organization representatives also will be invited to attend.

For further information, please contact Public Affairs Officer, Ms. Lisa Heilbronn at 0811280816, or Information Assistant, Mr. Roger Lyners, at 229801 [ext. 226].