Additional Member States Receive
Training in Arms Marking
RECSA Member countries from the Great Lakes
Region, the Horn of Africa and Bordering
States committed themselves to mark their
weapons. This is in accordance with the
Nairobi Protocol for the Prevention, Control
and Reduction of Small Arms, and the Best
Practice Guidelines.
Member States are to ensure that all state
owned firearms and those held legally by
civilians are marked to uniquely identify
the firearms.
In
support of this commitment, RECSA purchased
at least two electronic marking machines per
country with which to mark the arms. This
has been followed by training in the use of
the equipment to facilitate commencement of
the marking process electronically.
In
2008 law enforcement officers in Kenya,
Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi
received training from RECSA. Marking is
progressing in these countries by the
military and police.
In
the latter half of 2009, a second round of
trainings have been held in additional
member states – Seychelles, Ethiopia,
Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi,
Djibouti and Sudan.
The
second round of trainings has been made
possible by the support of the US
Government. Trainees were drawn from the
Police and the Army in the various
countries.
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