Tanzania calls for fight against illicit proliferation of small arms

Tanzania on Friday called on African countries to fight against syndicates perpetrating illicit proliferation of small arms and businesses in the region.

"Perpetrators of illicit proliferation of small arms should be brought to book regardless of their status and positions in the society," said Tanzanian Vice President Samia Suluhu.

She was opening the 8th ordinary session of the ministerial council of the Regional Centre on Small Arms in the Great Lakes Region, the Horn of Africa and Bordering States (RECSA) in the country's northern tourist city of Arusha.

"They should be mercilessly dealt with before the courts of law so that justice should not only be done but seen to be done," she said.

The Vice-President urged the 15 RECSA member states to strengthen efforts and focus on harmonizing their legislation, mounting joint cross-border operations and marking small arms and light weapons for easy tracing.

She said the access to illicit arms and light weapons was fuelling crimes ranging from terrorism to poaching.

Suluhu admitted that despite all international and regional instruments geared at clearing the menace of illicit firearms and light weapons, the problem was still predominant in the region and the entire world.

Source: XINHUA