Uganda
Police Abandon 'Crude' AK-47 Assault Rifles for Pistols in Kampala
Observer (Kampala)
7 March 2010
Mean looking AK-47 toting Police constables will soon disappear from the streets as the force moves to introduce sidearm pistols, the universally accepted weapons in modern policing. The Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, told a press conference at the Police Headquarters in Kampala on Friday that the change of weapons was part of a broader plan to transform the Police from a force into a service. "We... ( gunpolicy.org )
Tanzania
Machine Gun Gang Invade Tanzanian Wedding Party, Kill 5, Steal Cattle
Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
6 March 2010
TERIME, Tanzania -- A wedding party was thrown into disarray in Tarime district on Thursday night, when armed gangsters stormed a homestead and shot dead five people. Six other people, including two children, were seriously injured in the attack that rocked Kimusi village, some 40 kilometres from Tarime Township. However, the bride and bridegroom, whose big day had started on a brighter note, with hundreds of their relatives... ( gunpolicy.org )
Uganda
Peaceful Disarmament 'Failed,' Uganda Army Goes for Karimojong Guns
New Vision (Kampala)
28 February 2010
KAMPALA, Uganda -- Karimojong warriors who do not voluntarily surrender their guns risk being court-martialled, the Government has warned. Information minister Kabakumba Masiko said about 70 warriors who refused to surrender their guns had been tried in the Court Martial. "The rustlers will be dealt with firmly and decisively and cattle rustling will be a thing of the past," she told a media briefing at the Kampala Media... ( gunpolicy.org )
Uganda
Kampala Police Mark 4,300 Firearms, Hope to Trace Cops Renting Guns
Monitor (Kampala)
24 February 2010
KAMPALA -- All firearms belonging to the police have been marked to curb the misuse of guns by security officers. The Director of Police Operations, Mr Francis Rwego, said the exercise will bring to book police officers who have been engaging in armed robberies and hiring out guns to suspected criminals. "There have been incidences in the past where some police officers were engaged in criminal acts like robbery. We shall now be... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kenya
Pastoralists Fear Brutality, Torture as Kenyan Police Come for Their Guns
Daily Nation (Nairobi)
22 February 2010
NAIROBI -- Pastoral communities in northern Kenya are apprehensive over the disarmament expected to start any time now. A 70-day amnesty to surrender illegal arms by the pastoralists lapsed at the weekend, with 1,141 guns and 14,980 bullets having been handed over. The government has also repossessed more than 500 guns initially issued to home guards in the region. This will ensure no one will be having a government-issued... ( gunpolicy.org )
Uganda
Soldier Shoots, Kills Wife, Then Himself in Kampala Domestic Dispute
New Vision (Kampala)
22 February 2010
KAMPALA -- A UPDF soldier has shot his wife dead and later shot himself dead. The tragic incident occurred at around 6am this morning at Mbuya a Kampala suburb. Private James Agaba attached to Mbuya military headquarters shot his wife only identified as Deborah 6 times before turning the gun to himself. Neighbours heard several bullets in the morning shortly after the soldier returned from his night duty. ( gunpolicy.org )
Uganda
66,000 Guns Destroyed in Uganda's 3-year Firearm Seizure Campaign
New Vision (Kampala)
21 February 2010
KAMPALA -- The Uganda National Focal Point (NFP) on small arms and light weapons has destroyed ammunition in an effort to combat the increase of small arms in the country. Among those destroyed were 300 explosives, 800 grenade canisters, 38 boxes of gun powder, 15 boxes of propellant charges, 100 tear gas canisters, 4,000 small ammunitions and 1,500 artillery rounds, some dating back to 1963. The arms were destroyed recently... ( gunpolicy.org )
Uganda
Karamoja Elder Betrayed by Gun Amnesty, Uganda Army 'Cattle Rustlers'
Monitor (Kampala)
21 February 2010
He has dedicated his life to peace, worked closely with the UPDF to disarm his clansmen and once secured surrender of 200 illegal guns in a day. Today, Mzee Aramutori Lokodo is an angry elder, temporary confined by the government at a top Kampala Hotel, after soldiers allegedly grabbed all his 350 cattle last month. He spoke to Sunday Monitor's Tabu Butagira (through an interpreter) about how the army has become what he called a "cattle-rustling... ( gunpolicy.org )
Uganda
Uganda Army Commander Kills Wife, Self in 'Domestic Violence' Shooting
Monitor (Kampala)
15 February 2010
St. Valentine's Day, observed to celebrate love, ironically turned tragic in Kisoro District after a UPDF commander shot his wife dead before turning the gun on himself. Lt. David Okumu, 45, the Busanza detach commander, allegedly became furious after his wife, Teddy Akuru, reportedly received a romantic short text message (SMS) on her mobile phone which he suspected was from another lover. But the police and army remained... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kenya
Kenyan TV Crew Buy AK-47 in Turkana, Easily Smuggle It Into Nairobi
Standard (Nairobi)
9 February 2010
Buying a gun and transporting the loaded weapon past numerous police checks without detection has never been that easy. This is what KTN crew proved. Reporters and a cameraman were on assignment in Turkana last week when they managed to not only buy an AK-47 rifle and bullets, but also transport it to Nairobi. The reporters said the weapon was not discovered despite checks on the road from Turkana to Nairobi. ... ( gunpolicy.org )
Zimbabwe
Security Firm Quickly Surrenders More Unlicensed Guns in Zimbabwe
Herald (Zimbabwe)
9 February 2010
HARARE -- Midsec Security Company, which was last month slapped with a US$700 fine for failing to renew 19 service firearms licences, has surrendered nine more unlicenced guns to Kadoma Police Station for investigations. Early last month, the security company was arraigned before the Kadoma Magistrates Courts for failing to renew licences for 19 service weapons and got away with a fine for breaking the Firearms Act. Police... ( gunpolicy.org )
Uganda
Ugandan Army Estimates 1,077 Illegal Guns Still in Hands of Karimojong
New Vision (Kampala)
8 February 2010
KAMPALA -- About 1,077 guns are still in the hands of the Karimojong, the UPDF 3rd division commander, Brig. Patrick Kankiriho, has said. He added that the army had collected 29,923â-guns in the last eight years of the disarmament exercise in Karamoja. "Very soon we shall declare Karamoja free from illegal guns. Then we can embark on integrated development and total pacification of the sub-region," Kankiriho said. ... ( gunpolicy.org )
Uganda
Rash of Gun Robberies Prompts Uganda to Disarm Private Security Firms
New Vision (Kampala)
3 February 2010
KAMPALA -- Government is considering withdrawing fire arms from private security firms. State minister for internal affairs Matia Kasaija says some officers from private security organisations have been implicated in using their guns to rob and kill innocent people. Kasaija said private security companies will now have to use batons to carry out their work. ( gunpolicy.org )
Kenya
Large Seizures of Illegal Ammunition Stir Up Sleepy Kenyan Town
Daily Nation (Nairobi)
2 February 2010
NAIROBI -- Despite its proximity to the capital and being the gateway to the world famous Maasai Mara game reserve, Narok has remained a quiet, dusty and sleepy town. Not even the ongoing wrangling about the conservation of the Mau Forest have stirred it up. But things changed on December 7, last year. On that day, Narok was thrown into the spotlight when a large cache of ammunition and military hardware were discovered... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kenya,Czech Republic
Police Find Another 30,000 Kenyan, Czech Bullets in Suspect's Home
Associated Press
1 February 2010
NAROK, Kenya - Kenya's police chief says officers have seized another cache of bullets at the premises of a man already facing charges for a separate arms seizure last year. Matthew Iteere says police found the Kenyan and Czech-made bullets in a container at Munir Ahmed's garage. He says police seized two other containers but are yet to confirm their contents. Most of the 30,000 bullets are Kenyan, Iteere says. Such bullets... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kenya
In Sweep to Seize, Destroy Illegal Firearms, Kenya Police Kill Gun Owner
Daily Nation (Nairobi)
26 January 2010
NAIROBI -- A man was killed and 13 others arrested in a police operation to recover illegal firearms in Trans Mara District. District commissioner Albert Mwiritza said police shot the man who defied orders to surrender and instead fired his gun at the officers. He said an AK-47 rifle and 16 rounds of ammunition were found on the deceased. Among the 13 who were arrested was a taxi driver who was found with nine... ( gunpolicy.org )
Mozambique
Mozambique Churches Collected, Destroyed 700,000 Guns Since 1995
Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique (Maputo)
26 January 2010
MAPUTO -- Under its project "Transforming Guns into Hoes" (TAE), the Christian Council of Mozambique (CCM), the umbrella body for the mainstream protestant churches in the country, has, since 1995, collected and destroyed 700,000 guns held illegally, according to the CCM general secretary, Marcos Macamo, interviewed in Tuesday's issue of the independent daily "O Pais". TAE involves offering people holding illegal weapons useful... ( gunpolicy.org )
Zimbabwe
Licensed Gun Owner Killed with Own Gun, Fed to Crocs in Zimbabwe
Herald (Zimbabwe)
25 January 2010
HARARE -- The Banket-based special interest councillor in the Zvimba Rural District Council who was murdered last Tuesday could have been shot with his own gun, police investigations have revealed. Sources close to the investigations yesterday said four suspects in Banket had been arrested in connection with Lancelot Zvironge's murder. The four were yesterday still in custody and assisting with investigations. Police... ( gunpolicy.org )
Tanzania
Gang Kills 14 in Tanzanian Mass Shooting, 9 Suspects Arrested
Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
21 January 2010
Police have arrested nine people and recovered two guns and 68 rounds of ammunition in a crackdown after gangsters killed 14 people at the weekend. But the Director of Criminal Investigations, Mr Robert Manumba, said police were yet to confirm if the guns, which were found abandoned in a bush, were the ones used in the killings. He said law enforcers recover a sub mashine gun with 68 bullets and a shotgun with five bullets... ( gunpolicy.org )
Africa,Kenya
Deadline Extended by Kenyan Government to 'Mop Up' Illegal Guns
Daily Nation (Nairobi)
27 December 2009
The government has extended the deadline on the general amnesty issued to pastoralists to surrender illegal firearms. In a statement to the press on Sunday, Internal Security minister Prof George Saitoti said the amnesty has been extended to January 20, 2010. The minister said his action was prompted by the good response by members of the pastoralist communities on the earlier amnesty that was issued by the Government.... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kenya
Civilians, Reservists Surrender Assault Weapons in Kenya Gun Ban Drive
Kenyan Broadcasting Service
21 December 2009
Residents of Iisiolo district have surrendered 177 assault rifles to the government in a bid to beat the amnesty period deadline. Security personnel have in the past two weeks also recovered 7,939 rounds of ammunition from civilians while Kenya police reservists have handed back 217 guns issued to them by the government. Isiolo DC Mr. James Mwaura commended the residents for surrendering illegal firearms and expressed optimism... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kenya
Race to Smuggle, Buy Assault Weapons as Kenya Pastoralists Re-arm
Daily Nation (Nairobi)
20 December 2009
NAIROBI, Kenya -- The demand for automatic weapons in Turkana, Samburu and Pokot has created a huge market and this could explain the recent arms seizures in the country. Fuelled by persistent droughts, the arms race among the pastoral communities in Northern Kenya has intensified in the last decade with almost 95 per cent of households said to own a firearm. A two-decade study of the three communities says that by the... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kenya
High-level Corruption Alleged in Kenya Police Gun Trafficking Scandal
Standard (Nairobi)
13 December 2009
Hardly a week after the Cabinet approved police reforms the Administration Police is in the eye of a new storm over an illegal arms haul. The force, which has been adversely mentioned in various reports that accuse it of gross human rights violations that include murder and rape during and after the 2007 General Election is fending off allegations that its top brass is involved in clandestine movement of arms. The centre... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom,Kenya
British Army Gear Among Large Ammo Cache and Guns Seized in Kenya
Daily Nation (Nairobi)
10 December 2009
NAIROBI -- A Kenyan working at a British Army base has been arrested and detained in connection with the huge cache of weapons seized by police in Narok. Mr John Wandeto, a civilian, was arrested as businessman Ishmael Munir and a senior Administration Police officer, Superintendent Joseph Maritim, were charged in court for illegally possessing government ammunition. Mr Wandeto, who is employed at the military base in Nanyuki,... ( gunpolicy.org )
Malaysia,Burundi
Malaysia Escapes UN Censure After Officials Scrap Arms Sale to Burundi
Malay Mail (Malaysia)
10 December 2009
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - An attempt by a local company to export some 30,000 assault rifles to Burundi, worth more than RM200 million, nearly caused Malaysia to be censured by the United Nations Security Council, if not for the prompt action by Malaysian officials at the UN body. The Malay Mail learnt that officials from the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the UN in New York had managed to assure the world body that the Malaysian... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kenya
Gun Owner, Police Armourer Arrested Over 100,000-bullet Cache in Kenya
East African Standard (Nairobi)
9 December 2009
A couple was found with more than 100,000 bullets and military gear in their house at Narok town. Four rifles and two pistols were also found in Mr Munir Ahmed's house. A seventh pistol was found on his waist when he was arrested in Embakasi, Nairobi, on Monday night. The seized bullets are usually used in sub-machine guns. Yesterday, police displayed two telescopic machines, five pairs of military boots, assorted British... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kenya
Police Arrest Businessman with 'Licensed' Guns, 100,000 Bullets in Nairobi
Associated Press
8 December 2009
NAIROBI, Kenya -- Kenyan police on Tuesday said they arrested a suspected weapons smuggler with up to 100,000 bullets and an assortment of guns, a huge cache in a country with stringent gun laws. Police recovered the weapons and ammunition in two raids carried out late Monday on the suspect's house in the capital, Nairobi, and on a business site in the western town of Narok, Police Commissioner Matthew Iteere said. Ever... ( gunpolicy.org )
Tanzania
Tanzania Denies, But 'Will Investigate' Gun Running to DR Congo
NAM News Network
8 December 2009
SIMBEYE, Tanzania -- Inspector General of Police Mr Said Mwema has said that Tanzanian police have launched a formal inquiry of individuals accused by a United Nations report of smuggling weapons to rebels in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). "For the police, the first step towards investigating a tip-off is an inquiry which we have already launched against individuals mentioned in the report," said Mr Mwema who introduced a maiden... ( gunpolicy.org )
Zimbabwe
Harare City Council Workers Obliged to Carry Guns Without Training
Herald (Harare)
6 December 2009
Some City of Harare security personnel are carrying service firearms that they do not know how to use, it has emerged. The workers themselves said some of them had not been trained to use the firearms and those with training were not regularly retested, thereby posing a danger to the public and council resources they were entrusted to protect. Workers in the public safety department submitted a petition to council on November... ( gunpolicy.org )
Zimbabwe
Soldiers Arrested, Jailed for Theft of 20 Zimbabwe Army AK-47s, Shotgun
Sunday News (Zimbabwe)
30 November 2009
Police in Harare have arrested four suspects in connection with the theft of 21 firearms at the Zimbabwe National Army's Pomona Barracks last month. One of the suspects was last Friday sentenced to 15 years imprisonment while all the firearms -- 20 AK-47 rifles and a shotgun -- were recovered at their respective homes in the city. Police spokesman Chief Superintendent Oliver Mandipaka confirmed the developments yesterday.... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kenya
Government to Seize, Destroy Illegal Guns in Kenya's Eastern, North Rift
Kenya Broadcasting Corporation
20 November 2009
The government will mop out all illegal firearms in the insecurity prone areas of North Rift and Upper Eastern parts at the country in order to improve security in those areas. The minister for state in charge of internal security and provincial Administration, Prof. George Saitoti said over the years, the country had experienced proliferation of small and light fire arms due to its porous borders with her unstable neighbours. ... ( gunpolicy.org )
Zimbabwe
Theft of AK-47s, 'Suicide' of Suspect Army Officer Stoke Zimbabwe Fears
IRIN (UN News)
20 November 2009
HARARE -- The recent "suicide" of a senior army officer in the wake of a break-in at a military armoury in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, is sowing fears that the missing guns may be used to fuel instability. In late October, 20 Chinese manufactured AK-47s and a number of shotguns were stolen from the armoury at the Pomona army barracks in Harare. The deputy commander of Pomona barracks, Major Maxwell Samudzi, had "committed suicide"... ( gunpolicy.org )
Burundi,Kenya,Rwanda,Uganda,Tanzania,East Africa
We Must Eliminate the Menace of Illegal Guns in East Africa
Observer (Kampala), Opinion
11 November 2009
During the ceremonies to mark the 10th anniversary of the re-birth of the East African Community, 3,500 small arms were destroyed in a gesture of fighting the menace of illicit small arms and light weapons.The symbolic destruction of the unlicensed weapons fed into the theme of the anniversary celebrations, which was: 'Peace and security for stability and development.' Realising the magnitude of the menace of small arms in illegal... ( gunpolicy.org )
Central Africa,East Africa,Kenya,Rwanda,Somalia,Sudan,Uganda,Burundi,Congo (DRC)
Small Arms Control Group Decries 'Huge' Proliferation of Guns in Africa
Xinhua
3 November 2009
NAIROBI -- The Regional Center on Small Arms (RECSA) has decried the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the Great Lakes region, Horn of Africa and bordering states. RECSA Executive Secretary Francis Sang noted that the center was working in collaboration with the UN Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Africa to promote disarmament. To address this problem, he said, the governments should support the... ( gunpolicy.org )
Zimbabwe
Soldiers 'Arrested, Tortured, Killed' After Theft of 20 AK-47s in Zimbabwe
SW Radio Africa (London)
2 November 2009
A group of soldiers were allegedly arrested recently, for reportedly stealing weapons from an army barracks in Harare. The Zimbabwe Times said 13 soldiers are accused of stealing 20 AK47 rifles and three shotguns from the armoury at Pomona Barracks. The Zimbabwe Times named the detained soldiers as: Sungiso Musa, Darlington Kanyingwe, Nyaruwata Lawyers, Charles Muzondo, Dzingai T Chibutwaka, Stanley Mvindwa, Chamunorwa Chinyere,... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kenya
Kenya 'A Nation on a Timebomb' of Illegal Guns, Death Penalty Mooted
Standard (Nairobi)
1 November 2009
More than 130,000 guns are in the wrongs hands. The Government and experts are unanimous the country is sitting on a time bomb, which could explode any time. Head of the Kenya National Focal Point on Small Arms and Light Weapons David Kimaiyo warns the problem could reach unmanageable levels. "We have to address this issue once and for all, otherwise it might end up causing a serious social, economic and political problem,"... ( gunpolicy.org )
Burundi
More Than 10,000 Guns Surrendered for Destruction in Burundi Amnesty
Agence France Presse
28 October 2009
BUJUMBURA -- A Burundian disarmament taskforce said Wednesday it had received more than 70,000 arms surrendered by civilians over the past two years in war-wracked country. Dozens of others queued up to surrender their weapons, which included guns and grenades, as a midnight Wednesday deadline to voluntarily do so neared. "We are very satisfied with the work achieved since 2007. Today, on the last day for civilians to voluntarily... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kenya,United Nations
Kenya Leads UN Global Gun Trade Treaty Against 'Merchants of Doom'
East African (Nairobi)
19 October 2009
Kenya is pressing within the United Nations for the start of talks on a binding global treaty to restrict the illegal transfer of small arms that take scores of lives in eastern and central Africa every day. The UN's disarmament committee will decide this month whether to endorse formal negotiations on such a treaty. Continuing in the leadership role it has played on this issue for several years, Kenya has joined Britain,... ( gunpolicy.org )
Uganda
Uganda Claims to Have Seized 90% of Illegal Guns in Karamoja Region
New Vision (Kampala)
17 October 2009
KAMPALA -- Over 90% (27,199) of the illegal weapons in Karamoja sub-region have been recovered since the inception of the ongoing disarmament exercise in 2001. A statement issued after a five-day UPDF top leadership disarmament evaluation meeting in Moroto army barracks, said 10% (about 3,000) of the remaining Karimojong guns are buried underground in a bid to evade confiscation. "Arms trafficking into Karamoja has not... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kenya
Human Rights Worker Faces Charge for Discussing Kenya Gun Running
East African (Nairobi), Opinion
12 October 2009
NAIROBI -- Mid-last week, the British Broadcasting Corporation broke a story pointing to the possibility of arming, with conventional weapons, of both the Kalenjin and the Gikuyu communities in the Rift Valley. The story was picked up the next day by local media houses -- with key quotations to back up the BBC claims being given by Ken Wafula, who works with a human rights organisation in Eldoret. The government, predictably,... ( gunpolicy.org )
Uganda
Government Must Do More to Seize, Destroy Illicit Guns in Uganda
Monitor (Kampala), Editorial
7 October 2009
President Yoweri Museveni on Monday torched a huge pyre of 3,500 illegal guns at the opening of the East African Peace and Security conference at Speke Resort Munyonyo. This is not the first time that thousands of such small firearms are being destroyed. In 2006, a total of 57,000 guns and small arms were smelted at the Steel Rolling Mills in Jinja. Only a year earlier, the government had destroyed 3,000 guns at Nsambya Primary... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kenya
Influx of Illegal Guns as Kenyans 'Rearm for Ethnic Arms Race, 2012 Poll'
BBC News
7 October 2009
Rival ethnic groups in Kenya who fought after the 2007 election are rearming in readiness for violence at the 2012 poll, a BBC investigation has found. It is feared villagers in Rift Valley province are moving from traditional weapons such as spears to machine guns. Government officials insist they are tackling the influx of illegal arms. But they have been widely criticised for failing to punish the ringleaders... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kenya
Owning an Assault Weapon Could Soon Be a Hanging Offence in Kenya
Daily Nation (Nairobi)
6 October 2009
Owners of illegal guns and police officers who rent their firearms to criminals could soon face the death penalty. Law enforcement agencies are pushing for tighter gun control and have proposed a raft of tough measures to be discussed by the Cabinet soon. These include an amendment to the Firearms Act, the law governing the legal ownership of guns. According to the latest proposals contained in the National Policy... ( gunpolicy.org )
Burundi
Police, Military Weapon Storage Upgraded to Curb Gun Theft in Burundi
Mines Advisory Group (MAG), Media release
21 September 2009
MAG is improving security at Burundi's police stations and armouries in the run-up to next year's crucial general elections. Following decades of dictatorship and a 12-year long civil war that killed over 300,000, these first elections after the transition elections will be determining for the country's future. With the Burundian population and international community fearing electoral violence amid rising tensions, MAG... ( gunpolicy.org )
Zambia
Illegal Firearms Targeted by Gun Amnesty in Zambia's Western Province
Post (Zambia)
16 September 2009
SENANGA -- Western Province permanent secretary Ikanuke Noyoo has appealed to people with illegal firearms in the province to surrender them to the government since the amnesty was still in place. In interview, Noyoo said that Western Province's Shangombo, Kalabo and Kaoma were the worst affected districts with illegal firearms in civilian hands. "The Minister of Home Affairs has already put in place a programme to dispatch... ( gunpolicy.org )
East Africa, Central Africa
East, Central African Countries Harmonise Laws to Curb Gun Trafficking
East African (Nairobi)
7 September 2009
NAIROBI -- Countries from the Great Lakes region and Horn of Africa are to harmonise their laws to fight the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. "In order to address the problem effectively, we have resolved to harmonise our laws so that we can rein in the culprits. Our state arms are being marked to help in tracing them if they fall into the wrong hands," Tanzania Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Dominic Hayuma... ( gunpolicy.org )
Uganda
After Decade of Forced Disarmament, Illegal Guns Still Haunt Karamoja
Monitor (Kampala)
5 September 2009
Nearly a decade ago the government launched a disarmament programme to rid Karamoja of illegal guns that at the time were largely responsible for the mayhem in the region. At the inception of the exercise in 2001, illegal guns circulating in Karamoja were estimated at 80,000 by the civil society organisations operating in the region The government has since contested the figure of 80,000 saying the number was much less... ( gunpolicy.org )
Malawi
Govt, Civil Society Tout Action Plan to Curb Proliferation of Guns in Malawi
Zimbabwean / Nyasa Times
27 August 2009
Malawi is suffering from persistent attacks of gun violence involving small arms from neighbouring countries and within, Minister of Internal Affairs, Aaron Sangala (pictured) says there is need to put in place a National Policy and a National Action Plan to curb the proliferation of firearms. Sangala said the policy will guide decision making in the way the government would like to tackle issues of small arms and light weapons.... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kenya
Harmonisation of Gun Control Law Key to Kenya's War on Small Arms
Daily Nation (Nairobi)
27 August 2009
The Kenya government has started harmonising crime laws to boost the war on small arms. Solicitor-general Wanjuki Muchemi said the Organised Crime Bill, Terrorism Bill and International Crime Bill are being amended to help combat crime. The changes include harsher penalties for illegal possession of guns, he said, adding that the amendments also seek to address the misuse of firearms by police officers. Light weapons... ( gunpolicy.org )
Zimbabwe
Man Kills Wife, 4yr-old Daughter, Self in Zimbabwe Domestic Shooting
Herald (Harare)
19 August 2009
HARARE -- A security guard at Domboshawa Training Centre yesterday shot and killed his wife and four-year-old daughter after an argument over his alleged infidelity with a minor, before turning the gun on himself. Eyewitnesses said the dispute started when Tichaona Chisvo's wife, Patricia Musona, got information that her husband was having an affair with a 13-year-old schoolgirl. She went to the girls' house and dragged her to her... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kenya
6000 Arrows, 11 Guns Surrendered in Kenya's Illegal Weapon Amnesty
Daily Nation (Nairobi)
9 August 2009
NAIROBI -- The government plans to extend the amnesty period for those willing to surrender weapons used during the post-election violence. The amnesty is to expire in two weeks but the ministry for Special Programmes said the period may be extended. Some 6,000 arrows and 11 guns have already been surrendered. ( gunpolicy.org )
Australia, Somalia
Tight Gun Control, Lack of Assault Weapons Foiled Aussie Terrorist Plot
Sydney Morning Herald
6 August 2009
The alleged Melbourne terrorists planned to buy several machine-guns to use in their suicide attack on Holsworthy army base, but had neither the money nor the connections to get them, police have claimed. But authorities missed out on a vital chance to watch the men raise the funds and buy the weapons on the blackmarket after they were forced to bring forward planned raids due to a newspaper report. It was revealed yesterday... ( gunpolicy.org )
Uganda
To Aid Crime Gun Tracing, Uganda Re-brands Government Firearms
New Vision (Kampala)
28 July 2009
All guns in the hands of security agencies will be marked in a bid to check the proliferation of illegal arms. The marks will include the logos of the country, the manufacturer and the emblem of the security agency to which the weapon belongs, Nickson Olwa, the operations and research officer of the national focal point (NFP) on small arms and light weapons, said. "This will ease monitoring of the movement of arms. Even if they... ( gunpolicy.org )
Zimbabwe, Congo (DRC)
Zimbabwe, Congo Fuelling Gun, Ammo Trafficking in East, Central Africa
Mail & Guardian (Johannesburg)
21 July 2009
Arms and ammunition manufactured in Zimbabwe could be finding its way to Western markets, despite sanctions on President Robert Mugabe's government, according to a new international report. Zimbabwe -- Arms and Corruption: Fuelling Human Rights Abuses, prepared by conflict researchers International Peace Information Service (IPIS), states that Mugabe is still able to profit from an arms trade that includes agents from Europe and... ( gunpolicy.org )
Uganda
Sudanese Army Captain Sprays Ugandan Casino with Handgun Bullets
Monitor (Kampala), Editorial
19 July 2009
The incident in which a Sudan Peoples' Liberation Army Captain John Kwoch fired live bullets at Simba Casino revellers on Wednesday morning once again highlights how government's cavalier attitude towards firearms can be perilous to our nation. First, why was a foreign national carrying a loaded pistol to a Casino? There is nowhere else in the world that a foreign soldier can be allowed into a Casino or any other public place with... ( gunpolicy.org )
Zimbabwe, South Africa, Congo (ROC), Montenegro, United States
US, Congo, Zimbabwe, Montenegro All Involved in Gun Running - Report
Sunday Independent (South Africa)
12 July 2009
Zimbabwe is not only stockpiling modern weapons, but is circumventing sanctions by exporting arms to the US via Eastern Europe, according to a report to be released this week. According to the International Peace Information Service (IPIS), a Belgian research hub, the situation in Zimbabwe is a good example of why the UN-proposed Arms Trade Treaty needs to be as comprehensive as possible. Throughout last year, when the... ( gunpolicy.org )
Uganda
Ugandan Security Guards, Police, Soldiers Rent Guns for Armed Crime
Monitor (Kampala)
11 July 2009
KAMPALA -- With cotton wool in both his ears and one of his eyes covered with a plaster, Mr Jim Twebaze, 25, is fighting for his life. The clinic bed has become his home for a month now. "Pain is all over my body. My right eye can't see and blood is oozing from my ears. I fear that I may lose my hearing ability," Mr Twebaze said. He has also undergone a surgery in his abdomen. Mr Twebaze's injuries and suffering was inflicted upon... ( gunpolicy.org )
Uganda, Somalia, United States
US Dept of State Pays Ugandan Army to Funnel Guns, Ammo to Somalia
Daily Monitor (Kampala)
8 July 2009
KAMPALA -- Ugandan troops in Mogadishu have been secretly selling guns and ammunition to Somalia's struggling Transitional Federal Government on behalf of the United States government, Daily Monitor can reveal. Explaining American assistance to the TFG during a recent press briefing to US journalists in Washington, D.C., a top US State Department official said Uganda has been supplying arms to Somali troops and picking dollars from... ( gunpolicy.org )
Zimbabwe
Gun Dealer Tells His Story After 3 Years' Jail in Zimbabwe Under Mugabe
SW Radio Africa (London), Transcript
3 July 2009
Violet Gonda: My guest on the programme Hot Seat is Michael Peter Hitschmann who was released from jail on Thursday. The former police constable was initially arrested for allegedly plotting to assassinate President Robert Mugabe at his birthday celebration in Manicaland in 2006. He served a total of 40 months for possessing dangerous firearms without a licence. I spoke with the firearms dealer on the day he was released and first asked... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Nations, Rwanda, Central Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa
Rwanda to Host UN Global Gun Control Meeting in Kigali, 8-9 July
United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs / UNODA (New York), Media release
3 July 2009
Rwanda will host a United Nations regional meeting on the Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons for States of the Horn of Africa, the Great Lakes region and Southern Africa, on 8 and 9 July, in Kigali, the capital. The meeting is organized by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), through its United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) and in collaboration with the... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kenya
Kenya Destroys 22,634 Guns, But Criminals Still Have More Than 10,000
Daily Nation (Nairobi)
30 June 2009
More than 10,000 firearms are in the hands of criminals in Kenya today, posing a big threat to security, a government body revealed on Tuesday. The National Focal Point on Small Arms has thus drafted a memo to the cabinet seeking to introduce harsh penalties on people convicted of gun crime. Initial proposals pushed for the death sentence but have since been scaled down to the life sentence, head of the unit David Kimaiyo... ( gunpolicy.org )
Burundi
Burundi Police Armouries Audited to Prevent Gun Theft, Diversion
Reuters AlertNet, Media release
29 June 2009
MAG has completed an evaluation of every police weapons storage site in Burundi, aimed at improving the security and management of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW). This is the first time MAG has conducted such a systematic and detailed nationwide survey of a country's police armouries. A comprehensive report containing recommendations for safer management and storage of SALW was officially handed to the Director General... ( gunpolicy.org )
Somalia, United States
Somalia Receives 40 tonnes of Guns, Ammunition from US State Dept
Reuters
28 June 2009
WASHINGTON -- The US government has provided about 40 tonnes of weapons and ammunition to Somalia's embattled government in the past six weeks to help it fight Islamist insurgents, a senior US official said on Friday. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the United States spent less than $10 million on what he described as small arms and ammunition as well as on payments to other nations to train Somali government... ( gunpolicy.org )
Tanzania, United Nations
Tanzania Promises to Tackle Global Gun Trade in East Africa and the UN
Arusha Times
27 June 2009
ARUSHA -- The government of Tanzania through Tanzania National Action Network on Small Arms (TANANSA), together with the international community of 80 countries, is taking action against the proliferation of conventional arms in order to make the world a safer place to live in. The country joined the global week of action against gun violence, organized by the International Action Network on Small Arms on June 15-21. The... ( gunpolicy.org )
Somalia, United States
Obama Sends Guns to Somalia as Government Fights to Repel Rebels
Washington Post Foreign Service
25 June 2009
The United States has sent a shipment of weapons and ammunition to the government of Somalia, according to a U.S. official who said the move signals the Obama administration's desire to thwart a takeover of the Horn of Africa nation by Islamist rebels with alleged ties to al-Qaeda. The shipment arrived in the capital, Mogadishu, this month, according to the official, who is helping craft a new U.S. policy on Somalia and spoke on... ( gunpolicy.org )
Uganda
Soldiers Kill 80 Warriors in Drive to Seize 622 Illegal Guns in Uganda
New Vision (Kampala)
21 June 2009
KAMPALA -- The UPDF has killed 80 warriors and recovered 622 guns with 4,295 bullets in the last six months in Karamoja. The 3rd Division spokesperson, Capt. Henry Obbo, on Thursday said: "UPDF has killed warriors who do not respond to our orders when we go for cordon and search operations in the villages." Obbo added that the army also killed warriors in ambushes and during raids. "We killed 22 warriors in the... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kenya
Kenya's Killer Gangs Increasingly Own, Rent Handguns, Assault Rifles
Daily Nation (Nairobi)
20 June 2009
Saturday's shooting of permanent secretary Kinuthia Murugu is the latest demonstration of a resurgence of gun crimes in the country, especially in Nairobi. Other high-profile cases in the past week include the killing of a university lecturer and the shooting dead of three people in the city's Eastlands, on suspicion of being police informers. Prof Peter Kenya was shot dead on Wednesday night in Zimmerman estate as he frantically... ( gunpolicy.org )
Uganda
Illegal Gun Trade Threatens Uganda's Economy, Says Police Chief
Uganda Pulse, Web page
19 June 2009
The Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura has said the proliferation in small arms is the leading cause of economic collapse in most African countries. Kayihura says access to small arms in African societies is one of the causes of civil unrest in Africa which in turns affects economic activities. Maj. Gen. Kayihura says the political unrest in Somalia and DR Congo among other African countries is a result... ( gunpolicy.org )
Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Yemen, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, West Asia
Weapons for Warlords: Gun Running, Arms Trafficking in the Gulf of Aden
Jamestown Foundation (USA) / Terrorism Monitor Volume 7, Issue 17, Web page
18 June 2009
In the Hobbesian anarchy that has been the norm in Somalia since the late 1980s, the proliferation of weapons has been associated not only with the pursuit of political power but also with international terrorism and the protection and furtherance of economic objectives in the region. Somalia lies at the heart of regional arms trafficking networks that include governments and private traders in East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Developed... ( gunpolicy.org )
Portugal, Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Sao Tome & Principe, Timor-Leste
Police Chiefs of Portuguese-speaking Nations Meet to Curb Gun Running
Diario de Noticias (Lisbon)
12 June 2009
CPLP (Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries) police chiefs have created a committee to fight arms trafficking through tighter controls of legal arms sales. The PSP (Portuguese Public Security Police) has suggested to the CPLP chiefs of police a harmonization of legislation relating to the trade and transport of firearms. The objective is to prevent the considerable number of weapons circulating legally between these countries... ( gunpolicy.org )
Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Uganda, Kenya, Yemen, Djibouti
Gun Dealers Revel in Profits from Arms Trafficking, Somali War Business
Reuters
9 June 2009
MOGADISHU -- Sitting on a mat at home between taking orders for arms on his two mobile phones, Osman Bare gives thanks for the riches flowing from Somalia's war. "I have only been in the weapon business five years, but I have erected three villas. I have also opened shops for my two wives," said the 40-year-old, one of about 400 Somali men operating in Mogadishu's main weapons market. "Peace means bankruptcy for us." ... ( gunpolicy.org )
Somalia, Eritrea, Uganda, Yemen
Mogadishu Gun Market Prices Fall, Smuggled Ammunition 'Plentiful'
Reuters
9 June 2009
In Mogadishu, prices of guns and ammunition have fallen in recent months due to plentiful supplies from Eritrea and Uganda and the weapons Ethiopian troops left behind when they withdrew, arms dealers say. Here is a price list for some popular weapons: Mortars 120 mm - $700 ($55 per mortar bomb) 82 mm - $300 ($25 per bomb) 60 mm - $200 ($18 per bomb) Anti-aircraft guns (truck mounted) 23... ( gunpolicy.org )
Uganda
Accused Political Killer Signed for AK-47, Ammo at Kampala Police Station
New Vision (Kampala)
28 May 2009
Ramathan Magara, the man accused of killing two people when he fired into a crowd in 2006, signed for the gun from the Police armoury, a State witness has said. John Mande, the officer in-charge of the Old Kampala Police Station at the time, said Magara signed for an AK47 rifle and 30 bullets. He added that the gun had not been returned since January 2006. Mande explained that Magara, an officer at the station... ( gunpolicy.org )
Uganda
Kampala Promises to Limit Use of Guns Newly Issued to Uganda Police
New Vision (Kampala)
26 May 2009
KAMPALA -- Kampala City Council (KCC) has put in place measures to regulate access to firearms by its law enforcement officers. "Not every law enforcement officer will have access to the firearms. They will be limited to a special squad of between 25 to 40 officers and only when going for risky operations like demolishing buildings," a source at City Hall said. Earlier this month, KCC unveiled plans to arm its law enforcement... ( gunpolicy.org )
Uganda
Wives Urged to Praise Husband, Mention Gun Control When Making Love
New Vision (Kampala)
26 May 2009
KAMPALA -- Women in Teso region have been urged to put pressure on their husbands who posses illegal guns to surrender them to the army. "When you are making love, do not just stop at praising your husbands. You should also talk to them about the dangers of possessing guns illegaly," urged Capt. Jeff Okwii Emojong, the commander of Operation Restore Hope in Teso. The operation is a UPDF special force deployed in Teso to... ( gunpolicy.org )
Ethiopia
Proliferation of Guns, Local Customs Fuel Violence in Ethiopia - IANSA
Ethiopian Review / IRIN (UN News)
21 May 2009
TURMI -- Zuga Sherdo grew up in a community that was constantly fighting its neighbours in southern Ethiopia. As a young Malee man, he lived through conflict between his community and the Bena, Tsemai and Ari, in which his uncle's family killed his brother and his father's clan killed his mother's relatives. "My community was always in bloody [conflict] with neighbours," he said. "I was born from a Bena mother, but was... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kenya
Street Shootings Claim Prominent Victims, 'Gunmen Run Wild' in Nairobi
Daily Nation (Nairobi)
6 May 2009
A spate of unresolved killings in Nairobi and its environs over the past two months has raised the alarm over the level of gun crimes in Kenya's capital city. From March, over 26 people have been shot and killed in circumstances that suggest planned murder rather than opportunistic crimes or robberies gone wrong. The number could be much higher given that the Nation figures are based only on reports of high-profile killings. The... ( gunpolicy.org )
Uganda
Too Many Guns in Too Many Hands: Uganda Should Ban Assault Rifles
Weekly Observer (Kampala), Editorial
6 May 2009
Government needs to re-examine its policy on gun ownership with a view to withdrawing assault weapons from the public. There are simply too many guns in too many hands. Most MPs have them, political assistants, and even drivers of VIPs, carry guns too! Thousands of security agents carry guns even to entertainment places and many of them have misused the weapons, some to settle personal scores, others to show off. A case in point... ( gunpolicy.org )
Uganda
Illegal Guns Among Civilians, Rising Gun Crime Worry Ugandan Officials
New Vision (Kampala)
26 April 2009
KAMPALA -- The resident district commissioner of Buliisa, Florence Beyunga, has expressed concern over the rampant illegal acquisition of firearms in the district. She said the guns could fuel ethnic clashes between the indigenous Bagungu and immigrant pastoralists. Addressing officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs at Buliisa community hall on Wednesday, Beyunga said: "Many people have acquired illegal guns in this area... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kenya
Kenya Police Demand Illegal Guns in Rift Valley, Residents Cry Foul
Standard (Nairobi)
17 April 2009
The Government has launched a security operation to mop up illegal firearms at the troubled Kwanza and West Pokot border. Some members of the Pokot community, however, claimed security officers carrying out the operation were harassing them. But police dismissed the claims saying they were there to deal with armed gangs that have been raiding homes. "They attack and kill people and come up with baseless claims... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kenya
Death Row Beckons for Illegal Gun Owners Under New Law for Kenya
Daily Nation (Nairobi)
17 March 2009
Possessing an unlicensed gun could soon earn you the death sentence as the Kenyan government steps up the war on crime. And police officers who hired out their guns to criminals could also join armed robbers on death row. Those who sold illicit firearms will not be spared either, if Parliament adopts proposed amendments to the Firearms Act. Innocent Person At present, a person found in possession of a... ( gunpolicy.org )
Somalia
Islamists Impose Order to Legalize Guns of the People in Somalia
Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu)
14 March 2009
BARDHERE -- Sheik Mohamed Muhumad Isma'il known as (Gadaashay), a head of education of al-Shabab administration has said on Saturday that they have imposed order to the people of Bardhere town in south-western Somalia to bring their weapons and legalize. Reports from Bardhere say that the administration ordered to all the people of the town to bring their weapons in the station of the town with in 48 hours and he added that the... ( gunpolicy.org )
Serbia, Libya, Seychelles
Wary of UN-blacklisted Arms Dealer, Serbia Blocks Big Gun Sale to Libya
Khaleej Times (Dubai) / AP
12 March 2009
Serbia has blocked a large weapons sale to Libya because of fears it involves a company that is blacklisted by the United Nations for breaking an arms embargo, Serbia's economy minister said Wednesday. Mladjan Dinkic said the Balkan country's secret service has stopped the sale of small arms and ammunition produced by two state-owned Serbian weapons factories that was worth about $50 million. He said this was done because... ( gunpolicy.org )
Somalia
Somalia a Land of Chaos, Awash in Smuggled Assault Rifles, Machine Guns
Toronto Star (Ontario)
1 March 2009
So much blood has drenched the red dust of Somalia that it forms a dry river of death beneath the feet of the latest killers and victims. Last week, another 80 people died in battles between African Union peacekeepers and Islamist rebels, as terrified civilians fled the capital Mogadishu and the town of Hudur to the south. During the Islamists' two-year struggle to dislodge a teetering transitional government, some 16,000... ( gunpolicy.org )
Uganda
Gun Amnesty Nets 36 Firearms, Ammunition in Ugandan Province
New Vision (Kampala)
26 February 2009
KAMPALA -- The Police in Amuria district have recovered 36 guns and 952 rounds of ammunition in the last six months. The district Police commander, Patrick Karamura, said on Tuesday that the guns were voluntarily handed in with the support of the Amnesty Commission. "For the six months I have been here, the district and church leaders have helped us to recover the guns," Karamura told journalists in his office. He... ( gunpolicy.org )
Uganda
Ugandans 'Jolted' to Find Police Have No Idea How Many Guns Are Out There
Sunday Vision (Kampala)
21 February 2009
The Government does not know the number of firearms in circulation in the country, the state minister for internal affairs, Matia Kasaija, told delegates at a small arms workshop in Kampala on Friday. The disclosure jolted some of the delegates who questioned what was being done to address the issue. The workshop was aimed at exploring ways of speeding up the implementation of the Nairobi Protocol on small arms and light weapons.... ( gunpolicy.org )
Uganda
Uganda Confiscates 2,433 Guns, 179 Killed in Disarmament Drive
New Vision (Kampala)
28 January 2009
KAMPALA -- A total of 166 Karimojong warriors and 13 UPDF soldiers lost their lives during the disarmament exercise in the Karamoja sub-region last year. According to the UPDF 3rd Division annual report, the cordon-and-search operation recovered 2,430 sub-machine guns, 36 hand grenades, three pistols and 11,630 rounds of ammunition. Speaking to The New Vision, the division spokesman, Lt. Caesar Olweny, said 146 warriors... ( gunpolicy.org )
Uganda
Ban Guns, Prevent Husbands Slaughtering Wives in Uganda - Archbishop
New Vision (Kampala)
6 January 2009
KAMPALA -- The Government has been urged to disarm civilians to curb the increasing cases of homicide. The Archbishop of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Pr. John Wani, condemned the rampant murder cases of spouses, saying Police should augment its investigations so that culprits do not go free. "Many Ugandans have proved to be blind to the gospel we preach. Husbands are slaughtering their wives," he lamented. The... ( gunpolicy.org )
Mozambique
Mozambique Police Arrested for Renting Guns to Armed Robbers
Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique
3 January 2009
MAPUTO -- Five policemen from the Maputo City Police Command have been arrested on charges of extortion and of supplying firearms to gangs of criminals, according to the Maputo director of the Criminal Investigation Police (PIC), Dias Balate. One of those detained is a PIC officer, Balate said. This man used to hire out police guns to criminals, and was paid with a share in the proceeds from armed robberies. "We found him... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kenya
Kenya Launches National Gun Marking Scheme to Curb Theft, Trafficking
Kenya Broadcasting Corporation
15 December 2008
Kenya is set to be among the first countries in the region to launch its gun marking exercise in line with the requirements of the Nairobi protocol on prevention, control and reduction of small arms. The exercise planned to kick off on Tuesday, follows the acquisition of an electronic marking machine from the regional center on small arms. The country has over the years been a victim of crimes resulting from proliferated... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kenya, Uganda, Sudan
AK-47s Cross Borders Freely in Warlords' Gun Markets of North Rift Valley
Standard (Nairobi)
10 December 2008
Ethokon Lumana Engolon was relaxed and enjoying herding his cattle and goats 500 meters away from his Manyatta in Kalimorock, Turkana South District, when his life was transformed. The day had began well and his mind occasionally wandered as he took pride of how his stock had doubled and fattened. He was excited that with the onset of short rains and maturing of new pasture, the long trek in search of water and pasture... ( gunpolicy.org )
Uganda
Uganda Begins to Mark All Military Guns, Ammunition for Later Tracing
New Vision (Kampala)
10 December 2008
Small arms, light weapons and ammunition given to armed forces and civilians will be marked and electronically registered. Lt. Col. Fred Karara, the UPDF deputy inspector general of military equipment, said: "We are going to create a central database for all small arms, light weapons and ammunition in Uganda. We have received equipment from the Nairobi Regional Centre for Small Arms and Light Weapons to carry out the exercise."... ( gunpolicy.org )
Tanzania
Government Must Stem Tide of Gun Trafficking, Armed Crime in Tanzania
This Day (Dar es Salaam), Editorial
8 December 2008
DAR ES SALAAM -- The recent police force announcement that it will carry out a two-year exercise to check the importation and circulation of small arms and light weapons in the country is significant. Coming at a time when the country experiences increased incidents of armed robbery, the initiative is long overdue. Our country boasts of having a broad-based security network including the Police, Customs and Excise, Immigration and... ( gunpolicy.org )
Rwanda
Rwanda to Mark All State Firearms, But Apparently to Exempt Army Guns
New Times (Kigali)
4 December 2008
KIGALI -- Rwanda National Police (RNP) will today train nine police and army officers on how to mark firearms using a new electronic machine ahead of a general exercise that will see all government owned firearms marked. The head of RNP's Firearms Registry, Chief Supt. Joel Ndahiro during a press briefing ahead of the exercise stressed that, "Marking of firearms will assist in tracing the movement of arms across national boundaries... ( gunpolicy.org )
Uganda
Army Warns 'Innocent People Must Not be Hurt' in Uganda Gun Seizure
New Vision (Kampala)
3 December 2008
KAMPALA -- The Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) has issued new guidelines for the disarmament exercise to check social unrest. Since 2001, the army has concentrated on recovering illegal firearms acquired during the different regimes. The army has to date recovered about 27,000 guns. The two-page document has been circulated to all military personnel of the division tasked with the disarmament. "Bearing... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States, Zimbabwe, United Nations
US, Zimbabwe Unite as Sole 'No' Voters on UN Global Gun Trade Treaty
Los Angeles Times
1 November 2008
UNITED NATIONS -- The United States and Zimbabwe united briefly Friday against the world to oppose creating a treaty that would control international sales of arms. In a United Nations General Assembly vote, 147 of its 192 members voted in favor of creating a global treaty that would impose rules on the import, export and transfer of weapons among nations. Only the U.S., long an opponent of such a treaty, and Zimbabwe voted against... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Nations, United States, Zimbabwe
UN Votes for Global Gun Trade Treaty: 147 in Favour, 2 Against
Associated Press
31 October 2008
UNITED NATIONS -- The U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly endorsed the idea of an unprecedented treaty regulating the global arms trade Friday, despite opposition from the United States. Of the U.N.'s 192 member nations, 147 voted in favor of drafting the treaty. Only the U.S. and Zimbabwe voted against it, with the other nations absent or abstaining. Proponents say they hope to adopt a treaty within five years imposing... ( gunpolicy.org )
Uganda
Uganda Claims to Have Disarmed 80% of Karimojong Pastoralists
New Vision (Kampala)
30 October 2008
KAMPALA -- The government has disarmed 80% of the warriors in Karamoja sub-region, a senior security official has said. Olandason Wanyama reports that speaking at the closure of a two-day National Agriculture Advisory Services (NAADS) review workshop recently, the regional internal security officer, Emmy Twagira, said the region was now more peaceful. "Compared to what people used to read and hear about Karamoja, the situation... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kenya, Africa
Proliferation of Guns in Rift Valley Threatens Development in East Africa
Indiana University Press, Book review
29 October 2008
The small arms threat to peace, security, and sustainable development. "A path-breaking examination of a highly important and hitherto largely neglected topic." -- Mark Leopold, University of Sussex. "A systematic overview of the effect of small arms on pastoralism and governance in Karamoja and Samburu/Laikipia/Turkana." -- Philip Winter, Rift Valley Institute Recent estimates indicate that more than 640 million... ( gunpolicy.org )
Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia
Kenyan Police Blame Flow of Illegal Guns on Somali, Ethiopian Dealers
Daily Nation (Nairobi)
27 October 2008
A security operation has been launched in North Eastern Province to curb the influx of illegal fire arms from Somalia and Ethiopia. Speaking to the Nation on phone on Monday, Internal Security assistant minister Orwa Ojodeh said the operation started two days ago. "We have ordered an operation in Mandera to flush out dealers in illegal arms from the neighbouring Somalia and Ethiopia," he said, noting that immigrants had... ( gunpolicy.org )
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