RECSA Executive Secretary and Eritrea officials meeting on Strengthening Regional and National Institutions for Reduction of Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons.
The RECSA Executive Secretary met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Commander of Eritrean Police to discuss the implementation of the Nairobi Protocol in the state of Eritrea. The Executive Secretary reiterated his commitment to strengthen partnership between RECSA and the respective 15 Member States. He also appreciated the government of the State of Eritrea for the support to the RECSA Secretariat.
H.E. Osman Saleh also informed the Executive Secretary that the Ministry of Defence has consistently reinforced border control to ensure there is no arms trafficking in the country. The Minister reiterated Eritrea’s commitment to enhancing regional cooperation and in particular the provisions in the Nairobi Protocol.
RECSA has supported the State of Eritrea with the purchase of two arms marking machines and arms marking training, developed the National Action Plan on SALW control and destruction of unexploded ordinances.
The Commander of Eritrean Police Force Col. Mehary Tsegai noted that lack of proper management of small arms and light weapons have detrimental effect on peace and security in the region. Through the coordinated efforts by the government of Eritrea for the last 30 years of independence, landmines explosives and unexploded ordinances have been minimized to a great extent.
The government of Eritrea particularly the Eritrean Police Force and the Ministry of Defence have been at the forefront in sensitizing the public / communities on issues of safety and security. To this end, Eritrea boasts of the absence of a culture of carrying firearms for personal use hence the country has no case of illegal ownership of weapons.
