Kinshasa, November 18, 2019: MONUSCO Mine Action Service supported the National Commission for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons and the reduction of armed violence (CNC-ALPC), in the organization of a workshop for the monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the 2018-2022National Action Plan for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons in the DRC (NAP).The workshop was held on Friday 15 November 2019 in Kinshasa and brought together experts in the field of weapons management, representatives of different diplomatic corps, United Nations representatives, national and international NGOs, and various organs of the DR Congolese Presidency, Government and Parliament.
As a result of the workshop, 4 working groups were created: i) the National Action Plan Implementation Working Group (2018-2022); ii) Monitoring and Evaluation Working Group; iii) Progress Reports Working Group and iv) Partnership and Mobilization Working Group of Resources. Each working group will be headed by members of the Secretariat (Coordinator and Secretary).
Mr. Thierry Ngoy, representative of the Permanent Secretary of the CNC-ALPC, welcomed the partnership between CNC-ALPC and UNMAS for the implementation of this action plan to contribute to the protection of civilians, peace and the safety of weapons and ammunition in the DRC. Mr. Gregoire de Nantes, representing UNMAS Small Arms and Light Weapons project, reiterated UNMAS’ commitment to continue working alongside the CNC-ALPC in the process of the securing weapons and delivery training on weapons and ammunition management. He further stated that UNMAS is also involved in the destruction of obsolete weapons and ammunition at the request of the Government and MONUSCO. UNMAS also supports the CNC-ALPC for weapon marking operations and the registration of weapons across the country, he said.
In 2018, the CNC-ALPC developed a new strategy and the mentioned 2018-2022NAP for the control and management of SALW in the DRC, with the support of UN partners, including UNMAS, MONUSCO and the international NGO Mines Advisory Group. The NAP aims to combat the illegal circulation and proliferation of weapons in the DRC. It was validated by the DRC Government on 15 March 2018 in Kinshasa, in the margins of the Conference of the Council of Ministers of the Regional Center for the Control of SALW (RECSA).