Senegal Celebrates International Gun Destruction Day

Posted: 27 August 2005

Activists gather 3,205 signatures in Ziguinchor calling for ban on weapons trade.

Youth activists in the regional capital of Ziguinchor in southern Senegal gathered 3,205 signatures for the "Million Faces" petition, calling for an international ban on the trade in small arms, part of the Control Arms campaign’s International Gun Destruction Day on July 9.

The ‘Million Faces’ petition is a new way of campaigning. Its aim is to collect one million photos and self-portraits of people all around the world to demonstrate to governments that people need effective and urgent action to control the arms trade.

Trade in small arms and light weapons is fueling conflict, impeding development, and increasing poverty all over the world. The problem is particularly serious in West Africa, where small-sale conflicts and more widespread warfare have destroyed countless lives.

A dedicated group of 20 young people from the Regional Body of Youth Organizations (Collectif Regional des Structures de Jeunesse, or CSRJ) pounded the pavement to collect the signatures.

"It really shows the strength of young people, especially young women in the south of Senegal, who have contributed to the promotion of peace and security here," said Eva Kouka, Oxfam’s representative to the Control Arms campaign.

The young people also promoted the goals of the Control Arms campaign in radio programs on a number of stations in Ziguinchor, which helped raise awareness about the campaign and urge people to sign the petition.

Alioune Demba Kébé, representative of Afrique Enjeux, part of the Control Arms coalition in Senegal, said that the decision to target Ziguinchor is not coincidental. The region has recently endured 22 years of armed conflict between the seperatist Casamance Movement of Democratic Forces (MFDC), led by Diamacoune Senghor, and the Senegalese government. Thousands were killed and hundreds of thousands were displaced. The MFDC and government finally signed a peace treaty in December 2004.

Gun Destruction Day celebrations also included a soccer match between the top local team Casa Sports from Ziguinchor, and the Union Sportive de Ouakam, one of the elite teams from Senegal’s capital Dakar.

Organizers of the Control Arms campaign in Ziguinchor staged a burning of decommissioned weapons in the presence of the governor of the region, Mame Birame Sarr, soccer players, campaign volunteers, and soccer fans.

"Proliferation and trafficking of small arms is a pernicious trade, which has created a cycle of violence and displacement of people, anguish, terror, and famine, further impoverishing and violating the rights of people who have already been hideously abused," said Sarr at the burning of the weapons.

Organizers of the Control Arms campaign events in Ziguinchor inlcuded Oxfam, Afrique Enjeux, Fondation Sport et Paix, RADDHO, MALAO, WANEP, and Kabonketor.