Division 1.2.3 Results

Increased awareness, knowledge and understanding of 500 African, Chinese and Union policy community actors, including officials in charge of conventional arms export controls, scholars, parliamentarians, non-governmental organisations, industry representatives and journalists, of the factors contributing to the widespread availability of illicit arms and ammunition in Africa, the key issues and impacts on the ground and the role and responsibility of arms supplier states in mitigating the risk of diversion when transferring arms.

Improved dialogue, interaction, and cooperation on preventing and combating diversion of arms and ammunition amongst 60 African, Chinese, Union and Member States' officials and civil society actors, including through the identification of areas for practical cooperation between Africa, China and the Union, which will help reduce the diversion of arms and ammunition in Africa.

Reduction in the number of occurrences and cases of arms and ammunition being diverted to unauthorised and destabilising actors in Africa.

Support for the implementation of the African Union Master Roadmap of Practical Steps to Silence the Guns in Africa by Year 2020 and the UN Programme of Action against illicit SALW.

Greater alignment of national norms and regulations in Africa and China with international arms export control standards, such as the ATT, with a view to mitigating the risk of diversion when trading in arms.

The return of arms control on the agenda of FOCAC as a vital entry point for enhancing dialogue and cooperation between Africa and China on preventing diversion of arms to unauthorised and destabilising actors in Africa.

Production of a body of evidence-based analysis of the problem of illicit arms and ammunition in Africa, drawing from joint field research by African, Chinese and Union experts that will contribute to a better all-round understanding of the diversion and re-transfer of arms to unauthorised and destabilising actors in Africa and provide stronger common ground for Africa, China and the Union to work together more effectively to tackle the problem.

The identification of practical means to address the threats associated with the proliferation of illicit arms and ammunition and the need for collective and co-operative international responses, in line with major international and regional commitments and policy initiatives, such as the UN Programme of Action against illicit SALW, the International Tracing Instrument, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Arms Trade Treaty, the African Union Strategy on the Control of Illicit Proliferation, Circulation and Trafficking of small Arms and Light Weapons, the EU-China 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation, the EU Strategy on China, and the EU Strategy Against Illicit Firearms, Small Arms and Light Weapons and their Ammunition and the relevant Strategies and Action Plans of the regional economic communities.

Enhanced capacity of African national authorities and regional organisations to identify specific needs for technical assistance and identification of suitable platforms in their dialogue with China and the EU to channel resources to meet such needs.