Need for roadmap on means to silence guns in Africa by 2020

ORAN- The participants in the 4^th High-level seminar on Peace and Security in Africa, which wrapped up Monday in Oran, recommended to draw up a roadmap on practical measures to silence guns by 2020.

In a final statement, a copy of which reached ASP, they stressed the need for the African Union Peace and Security Council to speed up the drafting of a roadmap on the practical measures to achieve this goal by 2020.

The participants also underlined the key role that should be played by the States in the promotion and the preservation of peace, security, stability and justice, as well as in meeting the needs of populations the respect for human rights.

In this regard, they emphasized the need to strengthen the AU capacity to prevent conflicts, in collaboration with the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and regional mechanisms for conflict prevention, management and resolution, as well as with the AU Member States.

They also called for "strong cooperation between the AU Peace and Security Council and the United Nations Security Council, the RECs, among others in the resolution of conflicts and crises in Africa," and recommended the "mobilization of the international community to help Africa in the fight against the illegal proliferation of small arms and light weapons and the implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty."