Improving Security in the DRC Through Weapons and Ammunition Management

Authors

Beamie-Moses Seiwoh, UNMAS DRCFollow
Aurelie Fabry, UNMAS DRCFollow
Edison Pineda, UNMAS DRCFollow
Grégoire de Nantes, UNMAS DRCFollow

Abstract

The resurgence of armed conflict since 1996 has displaced thousands across the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and resulted in proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons (SA/LW), which remains a serious concern. The diversion of SA/LW and ammunition from state-owned stockpiles is linked to poor or insufficient weapons and ammunition management (WAM) capacity, practices, and procedures, and has been identified as a major cause of illicit arms and ammunition proliferation in the DRC. The trafficking, accumulation, and misuse of SA/LW and related ammunition pose a systemic and pervasive threat to peacebuilding and hampers long-term socioeconomic development. Installation of weapon storage solutions as well as the provision of WAM training, as implemented by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), is helping to improve the security situation in the DRC.

Recommended Citation

Seiwoh, Beamie-Moses; Fabry, Aurelie; Pineda, Edison; and de Nantes, Grégoire (2020) "Improving Security in the DRC Through Weapons and Ammunition Management," The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction: Vol. 24 : Iss. 2 , Article 10.
Available at: https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cisr-journal/vol24/iss2/10