The United Nations Office in Drugs and Crime (UNODC) organized a regional seminar for governmental experts from the countries in West Africa and the Sahel region. The participants included representatives from various Ministries and National Commissions. The objectives of the seminar were (a) to provide an update on the implementation of the Firearms Protocol and its provisions on illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms; (b) to present an analysis of the capacities of national authorities to counter the illicit trafficking in firearms; (c) to identify specific operational responses and (d) technical assistance needs to implement the Firearms Protocol.