Recognising the negative impacts that illicit manufacture, use, trafficking, and stockpiling of firearms and ammunition have on a population, SADC Member States signed the Declaration Concerning Firearms, Ammunition and Other Related Materials in the Southern African Development Community.
Through the Declaration, Member States agree to regulate and control civilian use of illicit firearms and ammunition throughout Southern Africa. The Declaration establishes that eradicating the proliferation of firearms requires international cooperation and, therefore, encourages governments to collaborate on programmes for firearm reduction, legal assistance in suppressing illicit firearms, international firearm registration, and exchange of information related to firearm stockpiling and trafficking.
In order to further these mitigation efforts, SADC advocates that Member States adopt coordinated national policies pertaining to firearms and ammunition.
