Sudan urges regional cooperation to fight illicit trafficking in small arms

KHARTOUM, Feb 11, 2005 (SUNA) — Director of Interior Ministry’s Training Department Maj. Gen. Mahjoob Hassan has urged cooperation among the countries of the region to combat proliferation of small and light arms to maintain stability and welfare of the region.

Sudan has suffered a lot from spread of these arms, he said.

Addressing a workshop on proliferation of small and lights arms held at the Police Officers Club here recently, Maj Gen. Hassan said the Sudanese legislations and laws are enforced to ban proliferation and place harsh punishment on illegal holding of these arms.

The Sudanese small and light weapons office was set up in compliance with Nairobi Declaration (2003), said director of Criminal Investigation Department, Maj. Gen Abdelbaqi Albushra. The Sudan office coordinates with the Secretariat in Nairobi, he said.

The workshop is aiming to establish a number of points in the member countries, said representative of Nairobi Secretariat. 30 participants along with Nairobi Secretariat and voluntary organizations operating in this domain have attended the forum.