UNODC Global Firearms Programme Regional meeting to promote international cooperation in West Africa to address firearms trafficking
On 23 and 24 September 2021, for the third consecutive year, the UNODC Global Firearms Programme (GFP) organised a regional meeting to exchange best practices in the conduction of operations against firearms trafficking in the region, in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. Since 2011 the GFP has been working with countries in West Africa and in the Sahel to improve skills on the ground and contribute to preventing firearms trafficking. The regional meeting focused on the sharing of best practices and discussion of practical ways to improve international cooperation in the region to fight illicit firearms trafficking and related crime, including terrorism.
The initiative was supported by the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) of Cote d’Ivoire and by the G5 Sahel, and counted with over 50 participants from seven countries (Burkina Faso, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal).
This activity was framed within UNODC’s Sahel Programme, financed by the Governments of France, Germany and Italy, and aimed to effectively combat illicit trafficking in firearms and its linkages to organised crime, terrorism and other forms of crime in the region.
UNODC training of trainers in West Africa
20/09/2021 - 22/09/2021
UNODC training on firearms trafficking investigation in Burkina Faso
27/07/2021 - 29/07/2021
UNODC workshop on forensic sciences in Niger
05/04/2022 - 08/04/2022
UNODC meeting on Silencing the Guns in Africa
22/06/2021 - 24/06/2021
UNODC meeting with West African experts on improving weapons storage
28/04/2021 - 30/04/2021