ECOWAS Seeks Implementation Of The Arms Trade Treaty

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has called for vigorous implemention of the Arms Trade Treaty to suppress proliferation of small arms and light weapons in West African sub region.

The Economic bloc made this call in Lomé, during a regional workshop for the establishment of a national control list for the implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty in ECOWAS Member States.

The Directorate of Communication, ECOWAS Commission, in a statement in Abuja, said, the main objective of the workshop was to establish a harmonized national control list for the effective implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty among ECOWAS Member States.

The Deputy Director of UNREC, Dr. Jiaming Miao, applauded the ECOWAS Commission and the National Commissions on Small Arms of ECOWAS Member States for their sustained interventions, in promoting disarmament and arms control in the region, despite numerous operational constraints.

He assured that UNREC will continue to assist the ECOWAS region to meet its obligations under the ATT and the ECOWAS Convention.

The Director of the ATT, Mr. Dladla Dumisani, said the Secretariat remains committed to supporting the two core priorities of the ATT, namely the universalization of the treaty and the effective implementation of treaty obligations at the national level.