Fifteen West African countries have signed a binding regional Convention intended to reduce the armed violence that has ravaged the region. The Convention was signed on 14 June 2006 during the Heads of State and Government Summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Click here to read the Convention
Cliquez ici pour lire la Convention

The Convention is the culmination of a process to transform the 1998 ECOWAS Moratorium on Small Arms into a legally binding instrument. IANSA has interviewed Dr Sola Ogunbanwo, lead international consultant on this important project.

The West African Action Network on Small Arms (WAANSA) played a critical role in promoting the creation of a legally-binding Convention. Click here to read the WAANSA press statement.