Regional Centre on Small Arms

Burundi

Development of National Action Plan.

Participants in Discussions during NAP Development Workshop.

A number of countries among RECSA Member States are severely affected by the problem paused by the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons. Conflicts in the region create a vibrant market for illegal arms. The various Governments therefore need to put in place measures to control the number of small arms in the wrong hands within their borders.

One way of doing this is to develop national action plans (NAPs) based on which small arms in the countries can be controlled and managed. Under the facilitation and support of the RECSA Secretariat, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania already have their plans in place and are in the process of implementation.

RECSA is currently providing technical and financial support to Rwanda and Burundi to develop their plans and have them completed by February 2009. A similar process will soon commence in the Eritrea, Djibouti and Ethiopia.

The NAPs will provide Rwanda and Burundi with a roadmap towards comprehensively addressing the problem caused by illegal arms. Useful debates are being held with and among the various stakeholders from Government and civil society.

The process in Rwanda and Burundi is being funded through a grant from the Netherlands Government.

Achievements by Member States to the Nairobi Declaration.

The Burundi National Focal Point was launched officially on 7th February 2003. Burundi hs been experiencing a war situation since 1993 and this has seriously frustrated operations of control of illicit possession of firearms in the country. It is estimated that more than 200,000 small arms are in illegal hands.

Major achievements include:

Setting up a secretariat to coordinate on a permanent basis the activities of the National Focal Point

Establishment of a national data bank on firearms;

Launch by civil society organizations of national public awareness campaign

Development of a DDRR program to be implemented immediately after the war.

For more details, please refer to the Annual Report 2003, pages 20,21,22.

Major achievements to date

In March 2004, Members of Parliament from Burundi , Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda met in Bujumbura to discuss a project on the harmonization of the legislation on small arms and light weapons of the 3 countries. A follow –up meeting on the Terms of Reference for the experts charged with the task was held in Brussels from 18 th to 19 th October 2004

In April 2004, a Burundi delegation led by the then Minister for Public Security participated to the Second Ministerial Review Conference which was held in Nairobi from 20 th to 21 st April 2004

On 12 th August 2004 , Burundi Council of Ministers adopted the Nairobi Protocol pending the adoption stage by the Transitional Parliament

Burundi NFP has participated to all regional, continental and international consultative forums on small arms and light weapons

Burundi NFP submitted to Nairobi Secretariat an organization Project of the National Debate on the control of small arms in Burundi with a view to seeking funding

The Coordination of Burundi NFP developed and submitted a Draft Action Plan 2004 to the Nairobi Secretariat

In September 2004, a workshop on structure, organization and daily management of Burundi N FP was held in Bujumbura under the facilitation of the Nairobi Secretariat

Commemoration of the 5 th Anniversary of the signing of the Nairobi Declaration
In the framework of the commemoration of the 5 th anniversary of the signing of the 15 th March 2000 Nairobi Declaration and the public awareness week on small arms and light weapons, Burundi Government through her National Focal Point undertook the following activities:

On 14 th March 2005 , a press conference was organized at Novotel Hotel to explain the content of the Nairobi Declaration and the Nairobi Protocol as well as the scope and the magnitude of this scourge of small arms in Burundi . About ten journalists from public and private Medias covered the press conference .Further; they reported the event through Television and various radios.

On Tuesday 15 th March 2005 , the General Chief of Staff of Burundi National Defence Forces, Brig. Gen. G. Niyoyankana, proceeded to the symbolic destruction of firearms. He publicly lit the fire on 200 firearms collected from the 1 st Para Battalion in presence of numerous invitees comprising:

o The Commandant of UN Forces in Burundi,
o the African Union Representative to Burundi,
o Representatives of international organisations,
o Representatives of Burundi Cabinet of Ministers,
o the press as well as the neighbouring population.

The Chief of General Staff delivered the keynote address in which he recalled the unwavering good will of the Government to eradicate the illicit trafficking of SALW. A report on the arms destruction was sent to Nairobi Secretariat

On Wednesday 16 th March, 2005 , The Burundi NFP in collaboration with “Colonie des Pionniers du Développement (CPD)”, a civil society organisation member of Burundi NFP, hosted a workshop on capacity building for stakeholders from civil society in coalition with the National Network for them to work in synergy. In addition, a cultural troupe called “TUBIYAGE” performed successfully for invitees a play on sensitization on terrible impact of SALW in Burundi.

H.E. Amb. Tharcisse Midonzi, Plenipotentiary from the Republic of Burundi, signing the 3rd Ministerial Declaration.

At the end of July 2005, the « Ligue Iteka», one of civil society organizations involved in the fight against small arms and light weapons hosted a Medias breakfast briefing on the theme « The Disarmament of civilians is it possible in the current socio – economic environment in Burundi ?

The team of panelists was composed by the following officials:

Ambassador Tharcisse MIDONZI, Coordinator of Burundi National Focal Point on small arms and light weapons ;

Hon. Bernard RUKINGAMUBIRI, Member of Parliament and Member of regional parliamentary group : AMANI FORUM ;

Mr. Celcius BARAHINDUKA, Executive Secretary of « Ligue Iteka» ;

Mr. Festus NTANYUNGU, Member of the Political Bureau of “Conseil National pour la Défense de la Démocratie ”/ CNDD of Léonard NYANGOMA.

The Media breakfast briefing was widely attended by journalists from various political parties and civil society,

From the debate, the following propositions were spelt out:

The disarmament is a process which must start as soon as possible but should be progressive and gradual and should start by disarming militants combatants and young peacekeepers to whom the administration provided with firearms to protect the population

Preliminary conditions of various nature should be put together for the success of the disarmament process

1. Political measures
Strengthening the security of populations;

It is important beforehand , to make sure that parties are really committed to solving the conflict and that the political process is sufficiently advanced to generate a certain level of confidence for possible peace

There must be a real political commitment of all belligerents and all political actors ;

Creation of a powerful and omnipresent police ;

Increased cooperation with all countries of the Great Lakes

2.2. Preliminary measures of implementation

To put in place preventive measures to restrict new arms flows entering the country ;

To conduct appropriate studies in order to determine the magnitude and the scope of the scourge ;

To encourage voluntary surrender ;

To put in place incentive measures ;

To resort to coercive disarmament measures in case of categorical refusal to voluntarily surrender;

To set up strict regulations governing the possession and the usage of arms ; and;

To implement the best practice for the management of stocks and for other aspects of arms control.

Burundi Technical Commission on Disarmament of Civilians and the fight against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in partnership with UNDP hosts a Medias professional’s sensitizations workshop
Bujumbura, 08 –09 January 2007

The Burundi technical commission on disarmament of civilians and the fight against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in partnership with UNDP hosted in Bujumbura, from 08th to 09th January 207, a Medias professional’s sensitizations workshop on the devastating effects of the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Burundi.

About 30 journalists from local radios, National Radio Television of Burundi (RTNB), Print Medias and delegates from Burundi journalists associations. The main objectives of the sensitization workshop were to update Medias professionals on the magnitude of the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Burundi and to highlight the major activities earmarked for the fight against the scourge as well as the disarmament of civilians to be carried out soon.

A representative of the Minister of Information, communication and Government Speak person, officially opened the workshop. In his speech, he indicated that the Government was expecting Medias participation and involvement in the campaign of sensitization and the creation of a Medias network committed to the fight against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Burundi.

During the workshop, a representative from the Regional Centre on Small Arms and Light Weapons (RECSA) was given an opportunity to give to participants a general background on RECSA since the signing of the Nairobi Declaration in March 2000 to the signing of the Agreement upgrading the Nairobi Secretariat into RECSA. He also highlighted to Medias professionals the key role the have to play in sensitizing the citizen on the dangers of illicit small arms and light weapons.

The workshop discussed the following nine themes:

i. The issue of the proliferation ad circulation of illicit small arms and light weapons at global and regional levels;

ii. The Nairobi Protocol and its implication for signatory States;

iii. The findings of a study on the proliferation of SALW in Burundi; which was carried out by the Ligue Iteka and Small Arms Survey with the support of UNDP, OXFAM and NOVIB;

iv. The presentation of the National Strategy on the disarmament and the figt against SALW;

v. The strategy “ exchange of arms for development “ in the disarmament process;

vi. The current progress made in the process of disarming civilians in Burundi;

vii. The Communication strategy in the national campaign of sensitization on SALW; and

viii. The National legislation on firearms.

After the two days workshop, participants recommended, among others, the following:

The government of Burundi should include in its priorities the mandate of the Technical Commission on disarmament of civilians and the fight against the proliferation of SALW by allocations the necessary and required resources to it;

Government officials to mention in their speeches message-calling civilians to voluntarily surrender their arms;

Relevant Law enforcement authorities to order public security law enforcement officers to not carry their firearms while they are off duties;

The Parliament to update and adopt a new firearms and ammunition legislation to replace the 1971 firearms Act which has became redundant and obsolete;

The Parliament to harmonise provisions on SALW in conformity with regional and international commitments that the Government of Burundi is party to ;

Members of Parliaments to participate in activities of sensitization meant for the disarmament of civilians;

The Technical Commission on disarmament of civilians to work closely with national and international partners for a better implementation of the disarmament policy;

The Technical Commission to create and strengthen the partnership with Medias for the implementation of the national campaign on the disarmament and the fight against the proliferation of SALW;

Civil society to efficiently involve itself in order to successfully achieve the disarmament of civilians process; and

The international community to support programme on the disarmament of civilians.

RECSA in partnership with “ Groupe de Recherche et d’Information sur la paix et a sécurité “ ( GRIP) and Burundi National Focal Point on SALW, hosts a National consultative workshop on the development of Burundi National Action Plan on arms control and management in Burundi

Bujumbura, Hôtel Novotel, 10- 11 January 2007

RECSA in partnership with “ Groupe de Recherche et d’Information sur la paix et a sécurité “ (GRIP) and Burundi National Focal Point on SALW, hosts a National consultative workshop on the development of Burundi National Action Plan on arms control and management in Burundi held n Bujumbura , Burundi , at Hotel Novotel from 10th to 11th January 2007. The consultative workshop was facilitated by experts from the Regional Centre on Small Arms and Light Weapons (RECSA), GRIP and Security Research and Information Centre (SRIC) .

The workshop was attended by members of the Technical Commission on Disarmament (CTDC), representatives from international organizations including UNDP and civil society.

In his opening remarks, the representative of RECSA Executive Secretary highlighted the main objectives of the national consultation as follows;

To have an overview on the current national situation in regard to small arms proliferation in Burundi;

To identify the gaps in understanding and better knowledge of the issue,
To identify the requirements and needs for a national comprehensive analysis of the situation of small arms proliferation in Burundi; and

to support the conception of a National Action Plan ( NAP) on arms control and management in Burundi.

The NAP will not be a duplication of the national strategy on disarmament but will assist in addressing other critical aspects of the problem that the National strategy does not tackle, he emphasized.

For the purpose of exchanging experiences in the development of NAP , RECSA facilitated the attendance of the Uganda National Focal Point Coordinator , Commissioner Richard Nabudere , since Uganda together with Kenya and Tanzania are the only three member states which have developed and started implementing their NAPs .

During the two national consultative workshops, participants listened to the following communications:

National mapping on small arms and light weapons;
Lessons and experiences in national mapping, the Ugandan experience;
Lessons and experiences in national mapping, SRIC experience;
The traffic and proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons in Burundi;
The causes of the traffic and proliferation of illicit SALW in Burundi;
The impacts of illicit trade of small arms in Burundi;
The situation of the fight against SALW in Burundi in the year 2006;
Donor support to interventions in fight against SALW proliferation in Burundi; and
Actions undertaken by civil society in the fight against SALW in Burundi.

The second day of the workshop was mainly dedicated to Group assignments. Participants were divided into three Discussion Groups and were given three respective assignments:

Specific and priority activities to be carried out for the next five years in putting in place an adequate institutional and legal framework;

Arms control measures and strengthening of states actors capacity in the following areas: Stockpile management; record keeping and monitoring of armed violence; border control; and capacity building; and

Arms collection measures and involvement of the populations and civil society.

In their feedback to the plenary session, participants agreed to focus their attention on three following specific priority areas: sensitization and promotion of community policing; identification of arms holders and collection of distributed arms; and voluntarily surrender of illegally owned arms and forced disarmament.

The workshop was officially closed, on behalf of the government of Burundi, by a representative of the Ministry of Interior and Public Security . In his closing remarks, he thanked RECSA and GRIP for their support and Uganda NFP Coordinator for accepting to join participants and share with them the Ugandan experience in national mapping. At the end of this national consultative workshop, we can now start identifying actions to b undertaken towards the development and the implementation of NAP on arms control and management in Burundi, he said.