The Central African Convention for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, their Ammunition and all Parts and Components that can be used for their Manufacture, Repair and Assembly, also known as the Kinshasa Convention, aims at regulating small arms and light weapons (SALW) and combating their illicit trade and trafficking in Central Africa.Kinshasa Convention - Chapter I, Article 1
The convention was negotiated within the framework of the UN Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa (UNSAC), and unanimously adopted on 30 April 2010 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, at the 30th ministerial meeting of the Committee. As of August 2022, Angola, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of the Congo and São Tomé and Príncipe have ratified the Convention. The convention entered into force on 8 March 2017, following the deposit of the sixth instrument of ratification by Angola.
Purpose of the convention
The purpose of the Kinshasa Convention, as stated in Chapter I, Article 1, is to:
Prevent, combat and eradicate, in Central Africa, the illicit trade and trafficking in small arms and light weapons, their ammunition and all parts and components that can be used for their manufacture, repair and assembly; Strengthen the control, in Central Africa, of the manufacture, trade, movement, transfer, possession and use of small arms and light weapons, their ammunition and all parts and components that can be used for their manufacture, repair and assembly; Combat armed violence and ease the human suffering caused in Central Africa by the illicit trade and trafficking in small arms and light weapons, their ammunition and all parts and components that can be used for their manufacture, repair and assembly; Foster cooperation and confidence among States Parties and cooperation and dialogue among Governments and civil society organizations.
Area of application
"Central Africa" refers to the geographical area covering the 11 states that are members of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa, namely, the Republic of Angola, the Republic of Burundi, the Republic of Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Chad, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, the Gabonese Republic, the Republic of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Sao Tomé and Principe.Kinshasa Convention - Chapter I, Article 2
History
The United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa (UNSAC) was established by the Secretary-General of the United Nations on 28 May 1992, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 46/37 B of 6 December 1991.46/37 Review and Implementation of the Concluding Document of the Twelfth Special Session of the General Assembly, United Nations Documentation Its primary objective is to promote peace and security in Central Africa through confidence-building measures, notably in the fields of disarmament and arms limitation.Eleven Central African States to Sign New Convention on Control of Small Arms, Light Weapons, on 19 November, Relief Web UNSAC comprises the ten member States of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and the Republic of Rwanda.
In his statement opening the 25th ministerial meeting of UNSAC, in May 2007, the President of São Tomé and Príncipe invited the Committee to support the elaboration of a subregional legally binding instrument on illicit SALW and its accompanying implementation plan, in order to strengthen the capacity of Central African States to combat illicit small arms and light weapons and their governance of the security sector, as well as a Code of Conduct for the Defense and Security Forces in Central Africa. This proposal became known as the São Tomé Initiative.Regional confidence-building measures: activities of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa, Report of the Secretary-General, Disarmament Reference
The Central African Convention for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, their Ammunition, Parts and Components that can be used for their Manufacture, Repair or Assembly, dubbed Kinshasa Convention, was unanimously adopted on 30 April 2010 by all eleven member States of UNSAC at its 30th ministerial meeting held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Convention was opened for signature on 19 November 2010 in the context of UNSAC's 31st ministerial meeting held in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo. Eight of the eleven UNSAC members States signed the Convention on this occasion; Burundi, Equatorial Guinea and Rwanda signed it shortly thereafter.CENTRAL AFRICA: New arms deal elicits optimism, IRIN The Convention Implementation Plan, which was developed alongside the Convention to ensure the feasibility of the implementation process, was adopted at this occasion.
Following the ratification of the Convention by Angola on 6 February 2017, the sixth such instrument of ratification, the Kinshasa Convention entered into force on 8 March 2017.
Analysis
The Kinshasa Convention is the most recent small arms control and disarmament legal instrument elaborated within the United Nations framework.
This Convention, which addresses the security, legal, institutional and cultural specificities of the Central African subregion, demonstrates the eleven UNSAC countries' willingness to establish a coherent subregional strategy to act collectively against illicit arms and ammunition. The mobilization of the eleven Central African countries to negotiate this arms control and disarmament instrument contributes also to a significant confidence-building measure amongst countries, the majority of which had been at war with each other.
The Convention's scope is broad and takes into account the most recent developments in global and regional initiatives aimed at combating illicit small arms and light weapons. The Convention also draws upon the best practices and experience of the African and other regions. Its elaboration process was also unique to the extent that both the Convention and its implementation plan were carried out in parallel, with a view to ensuring a "reality check" at the conclusion of various legal provisions implying obligations for States to carry out specific measures.
The Ministers' direct involvement in the elaboration of the Kinshasa Convention and its adoption strengthens the importance of the Convention and constitutes a significant step towards a subregional coherent strategy to act against illicit arms and ammunition. The conclusion of such a significant and complex legal instrument in such a short period of time is a significant demonstration of the subregion's determination to tackle one of its biggest challenges.
This Convention fills a void as Central Africa was one of the African subregions not to have its own legal instrument for the control of small arms and light weapons.
Structure of the convention
Note: This section summarizes the articles of the Kinshasa Convention. For more information, see the full text of the Convention.
ARTICLE 1: PURPOSE Outlines the purpose of the Convention. ARTICLE 2: DEFINITIONS Defines a wide range of technical terms used the Convention, including small arms and light weapons, licit and illicit activities or non-State armed groups.
ARTICLE 3: AUTHORIZATION OF TRANSFERS TO STATES Authorizes the transfer of small arms and light weapons to, through and from States for law and order, national security and peacekeeping operations. ARTICLE 4: PROHIBITION OF TRANSFERS TO NON-STATE ARMED GROUPS Prohibits the transfer of small arms and light weapons to, through and from State territories to non-State armed groups. ARTICLE 5: PROCEDURE AND CONDITIONS FOR THE ISSUANCE OF TRANSFER AUTHORIZATIONS Requires States to set up and maintain a system of authorizations for transfers of small arms and light weapons to public and private actors and sets standards for required information and limits to transfers. ARTICLE 6: END-USER CERTIFICATE Requires States to set up a system of end-user certificates.
ARTICLE 7: PROHIBITION OF THE POSSESSION OF LIGHT WEAPONS BY CIVILIANS Requires States to prohibit and penalize the possession of small arms by civilians. ARTICLE 8: AUTHORIZATION OF THE POSSESSION OF SMALL ARMS BY CIVILIANS Requires States to determine the conditions for authorization of possession, carrying, use and trade of certain light weapons by civilians and provides minimum requirements for accompanying licences. ARTICLE 9: MEASURES FOR CONTROL OF THE POSSESSION OF SMALL ARMS BY CIVILIANS Requires States to determine procedures for the granting and removing of licences, penalties in case of violations and to set up a national and subregional database of licences. ARTICLE 10: VISITOR’S CERTIFICATE Requires States to set in place a visitor's certificate regulating the import and transit of light weapons and their ammunition through their territory.
ARTICLE 11: AUTHORIZATION FOR MANUFACTURE, DISTRIBUTION AND REPAIR Requires States to subject manufacture and home production of small arms and light weapons to the possession of licences and sets minimum conditions for their obtainment. ARTICLE 12: MEASURES FOR THE CONTROL OF MANUFACTURE, DISTRIBUTION, REPAIR AND ENFORCEMENT Requires States to ensure the proper marking, management, monitoring and inspection of small arms and light weapons by licensed manufacturers, distributors and repairers.
ARTICLE 13: BROKERING Requires States to submit brokers and their financial and shipping agents to registration regardless of their nationality and regulate and trace their activities. Brokers should be registered in their country of origin and residence. ARTICLE 14: MARKING AND TRACING Requires States to ensure the marking of all small arms and light weapons and their components and ammunition on their territory with a unique identifier for which it sets baseline conditions. ARTICLE 15: REGISTRATION, COLLECTION AND DESTRUCTION Requires States to inspect and evaluate its stockpiles and collect, seize, register and destroy small arms and light weapons that are surplus, obsolete or illicit. ARTICLE 16: MANAGEMENT AND SECURITY OF STOCKPILES Requires States to maintain the security of depots and stockpiles and inventory small arms and light weapons in the possession of armed and security forces. ARTICLE 17: BORDER CONTROL Requires States to strengthen border control and customs administrations and bolster their cooperation in this area. ARTICLE 18: POINTS OF ENTRY OF SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS Requires States to determine and secure the mode of transport and points of entry and exit for small arms and light weapons. ARTICLE 19: EDUCATION AND AWARENESS PROGRAMMES States Parties undertake to develop public and community education and awareness programmes.
ARTICLE 20: NATIONAL ELECTRONIC DATABASE Requires States to set up and maintain an electronic and paper centralized database of all small arms, light weapons, ammunition and parts imported or locally manufactured. ARTICLE 21: SUBREGIONAL ELECTRONIC DATABASE Requires the Secretary-General of ECCAS to set up and maintain an electronic and paper database of all small arms, light weapons, ammunition and parts transfers in the subregion. ARTICLE 22: SUBREGIONAL ELECTRONIC DATABASE OF WEAPONS USED IN PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS Requires the Secretary-General of ECCAS to set up and maintain an electronic and paper database of all small arms, light weapons, ammunition and parts intended for use in peacekeeping operations. ARTICLE 23: DIALOGUE WITH INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURERS AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS Requires States to communicate with arms producers with a view to the exchange of information and the strengthening of the implementation of the Convention. ARTICLE 24: CONFIDENCE-BUILDING