Arms Management

and Destruction

Published | March 2016.

Edited by
Mike Fryer, Chris Loughran,
Jessica Riordan and Portia Stratton.
This publication has been produced by MAG.
Content can be shared as long as the
original source is appropriately referenced.
Photographs MAG/Sean Sutton.
Cover image
An assessment at a
Gendarmerie Nationale armoury in Mali.
Company no: 4016409
Charity no: 1083008
Registered office: MAG, Suite 3A,
South Central, 11 Peter Street,
Manchester, M2 5QR, United Kingdom.

info@maginternational.org
www.maginternational.org

This publication was funded by the

German Federal Foreign Office and
the US Department of States Office
of Weapons Removal and Abatement.

CONTENTS

FOREWORD

SECTION 1
7
Arms Management and Destruction
SECTION 2
AMD Activities

13

SECTION 3 
Change

26

MALI, 2015.
The south-central town
of Sgou, where new
armouries have been built
and existing ones refitted,
under German Federal
Foreign Office funding.
Unsecured weapons
and munitions can
bring devastation. The
recent conflict in Mali
is an example, with
the uncontrolled flow
of weapons from Libya
instrumental in fuelling
an armed rebellion that
resulted in thousands
of deaths and injuries,
significant population
displacement, and
increased political tension
throughout the region.

4|

FOREWORD

It is now widely accepted that

the poor security and management
of arms stockpiles has a negative
impact on people and their
prospects for socio-economic
development.
Theft and looting from state arms
stores is a major source of illicit
arms, particularly in fragile and
insecure contexts. Such arms can
attract high values on the black
market and are traded across porous
borders, frequently even crossing
continents. Further, a lack of control
and accountability within state
institutions themselves can also
lead to diversion of weapons.
Devastating unplanned explosions
at munitions sites, resulting from
precariously managed items,
can cause mass casualties and
destruction. Dangerous and unstable
munitions can be scattered over
large distances, often kilometres,
presenting a further ongoing risk
to civilians.
MAG has worked to improve the safe
and secure storage and management
of weapons and munitions for more
than a decade, with projects spanning
20 countries. This work, which
we now call arms management
and destruction, or AMD, had its
beginnings in a series of pilot projects
to assist states in equatorial Africa
with their destruction of small arms
and light weapons. It has since grown
to be a substantial part of our global
effort to create a safer future for
people affected by conflict, armed
violence and insecurity, and now
sits alongside mine action as one
of MAGs two programming pillars.

As AMD programmes have developed,

so has our policy thinking and
influence. Just like our mine action
work, the way we approach AMDs
development will be as important as
the activities we undertake. Working
in trusted partnerships founded on
principles of openness and critical
but constructive reflection will
remain vital.
The German Federal Foreign Office
and the US Department of States
Office of Weapons Removal and
Abatement are two of the leaders
in addressing the issues. They
contribute in very practical ways,
and MAGs partnerships with them
both are crucial.
This publication shines a spotlight
on some of the work in Africa, where
AMD has become a priority for many
states that have amassed large
stockpiles due to conflict, crossborder insecurity and the prevalence
of non-state armed groups.

NICK ROSEVEARE
Chief Executive, MAG

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DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
OF CONGO, 2012.
Under work funded by the
US Department of States
Office of Weapons Removal
and Abatement, a MAG
team with FARDC soldiers
prepares to take munitions
from an unsecured stockpile
in Goma for safe destruction.

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ARMS MANAGEMENT
AND DESTRUCTION

MAG uses AMD to describe the

pillar of its work that aims to have
a positive human impact through
addressing insecure and poorly
stored weapons and munitions.
MAG previously referred to this
as Physical Security and Stockpile
Management (PSSM).
Much of AMD falls under PSSM,
which is also a term used in military
assistance. The scope of AMD is
narrower than PSSM and does not
include various elements of military
support. The term AMD aims to
reinforce the distinction between
military assistance and work that
is motivated primarily by the desire
to assist people affected by armed
violence, conflict and insecurity.
Other organisations refer to
similar work as Weapons and
Ammunition Management/
Destruction (WAM/WAD).

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8|

CHAD, 2015.
A storage facility for the
Gendarmerie Nationale in
the north of the country
during a MAG assessment.

|9

BURKINA FASO, 2015.

Weapons used to be kept all over the
place. The work with MAG has allowed
us to modernise the management of our
weapons, and we now have the space
and equipment to store them securely.
In the past people stole weapons.
This is less likely to happen in the
future, it would be much more difficult.
Commissaire Principal de Police,
Emmanuel Kabore.

10 |

BURKINA FASO, 2015.

Poorly stored weapons
and munitions at a Police
Nationale facility.

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MALI, 2015.
An assessment at a Gendarmerie
Nationale armoury. Assessments
are undertaken in full partnership
with national authorities and are used
to design detailed assistance packages,
including training and capacity building
needs. In some cases, urgent technical
support is provided during assessments,
usually involving the removal of unstable
munitions to reduce the risk of
unplanned explosions.

12 |

ACTIVITIES

Every assistance project is

specific to the national context
and developed with relevant
national authorities. Operational
AMD activities fall into four
general groups:
Assessments
Assessment-based operational activity
Training and capacity building
Provision of expert advice and guidance

It is important to emphasise that all

AMD assistance is carried out under
the principle of national ownership.
This means that MAG doesnt try
to address the insecure and poorly
stored arms independently; it
supports national authorities to do so.
The national partner for projects
involving munitions is normally
the armed forces. Small arms and
light weapons (SALW) assistance
usually involves the police services
and military, but can also include
ministries or departments such
as the prison or parks services.
Most countries where MAG works
have a National SALW Commission.
National Commissions act as
a focal point for SALW activities
and assistance, though specific
mandates vary between countries.

Assessments have become the

foundation of AMD assistance
packages. They help national partners
to identify needs and clarify priorities.
Assessments typically involve visits to
armouries and explosive stores, risk
assessments of storage facilities and
identification of training requirements.
Review and reflection on several
projects in the Sahel and West
Africa identified a need for greater
cooperation and coordination between
actors to avoid duplication of effort,
including with UN programmes
and bilateral military assistance.
It also identified the opportunity to
increase the impact and sustainability
of AMD assistance through closer
coordination with broader arms
control support, such as assistance
with national legislation, regional
protocols, border controls and
export processes.
As a result, AMD assessments were
enhanced to include a stakeholder
mapping component to avoid
duplication, and also strengthen
links to broader SALW and arms
control programmes.

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MALI, 2015.

MALI, 2015.

A refurbished
Forces Armes
Maliennes armoury.

A newly constructed
Forces Armes
Maliennes armoury.

CHAD, 2015.
This containerised armoury was provided for the
Garde Nationale et Nomade du Tchad (GNNT).
Before, people would sleep with their weapons,
but now staff secure their weapons here when
their work is finished and this improves security.
Additionally, the training has led to a real change
and we are applying all that we have learnt.
Dangai Nestor, Marchal-des-logis, GNNT.

14 |

BURKINA FASO, 2015.

A new, containerised
Police Nationale armoury.

MALI, 2015.
A new, containerised
National Police Force
armoury.

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MALI, 2015.
Securing weapons plays
a key role in reducing the
risk of diversion, as well
as being vital for their
secure and accountable
management. Gun racks
have been a consistent part
of MAGs AMD work for the
last decade. Designs have
been developed that can
be produced with limited
facilities, using artisan
workshops, which supports
the local economy.

16 |

CHAD, 2015.
Before, we just kept our
weapons on the ground,
so this will keep them
safe. They are well kept
now and cannot be stolen.
Major Tahir Hassan,
Groupement Spcial
Anti-Terroriste (GSAT).

BURKINA FASO, 2015.

The work with MAG
represents about 35% of
our business, says the
owner of this metalwork
company. I employ 10
people, so the work goes
a long way to support
them and their families.

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CHAD, 2015.
A new Gendarmerie
Nationale armoury.
Before MAG built the
armoury here, personnel
would have to keep their
weapons with them, even
take them home with
them, said the Direction
Gnrale. Now with the
new armoury things are
very different and we
would like you to do this in
the other regions of Chad.

18 |

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DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
OF CONGO, 2012.
FARDC weapons are
logged in and out at a
prefabricated armoury
container in Kinshasa.
Training in record
keeping and oversight of
its implementation have
always been at the heart
of MAGs AMD assistance.

20 |

CHAD, 2015.
A new Gendarmerie
Nationale armoury. Record
keeping is an essential
component of weapons and
munitions management.

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BURKINA FASO, 2015.

Serial numbers are engraved into Police Nationale weapons.
MAG provides training and expert guidance on weapons marking that
is in line with international guiding standards and good practice.
Marking is normally associated with international tracing programmes.
But weapons marking is also essential for accountable management
systems, which are the foundation of AMD assistance. Marking initiatives
are most successful and sustainable when they are integrated with
wider national SALW programmes.
MAG provided weapons marking training in Burkina Faso in partnership
with UNREC and UNODC.

22 |

CHAD, 2015.
Gendarmerie Nationale recruits receive training from
Danemadji Toubard, who was given expert tuition by
a German-funded MAG team.
A key component of training and capacity building
includes working with managers and people in oversight
roles. This is essential for ensuring quality and the
sustainability of changes in practice.

BURKINA FASO, 2015.

Police receive certificates after completing an
armourers course.

| 23

MALI, 2015.
Malian Defence and Security Forces have
been trained in weapons and munitions
destruction. Destruction methods ensure
that all working parts of a weapon are put
beyond use. Such methods can involve
work with cutting shears, but also rapid
mobile operations with hand-held saws.

24 |

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
OF CONGO, 2012.
Thousands of weapons
are destroyed each year
at the weapons cutting
base in Kinshasa. A unique
facility in the country,
it is now successfully
maintained and managed
by national authorities.

| 25

CHANGE

BURKINA FASO, 2015.

Since all the stakeholders
the Police, Army and
Gendarmerie have
been working with MAG,
we have noticed a change.
The foundations have been
laid and we have received
very positive feedback.
Colonel Christophe
Tapsoba, Permanent
Secretary of the National
Commission to Combat
the Proliferation of Small
Arms and Light Weapons.

BURKINA FASO, 2015.

We were trained in the
management of arms
and ammunition, which
will help with safety and
security. If the arms are
not properly secured
there are dangers
from theft, fire, etc.
For example, arms and
ammunition should not
be stored together like
this. We need regular
training and help with
our facilities.
Etienne Zan, in charge of
weapons and ammunition
for the Police Nationale.

26 |

MALI, 2015.
The training has helped me a lot. We learned about
so much marking, identification of weapons and
ammunition, security measures many things that most
storekeepers do not really know or do. We now have
solid safety measures and we have procedures to follow
when we issue and collect weapons and ammunition.
The door is armoured and we have a serving hatch. Our
armoury is secured. We have better equipment: bullet
traps for security measures and gun racks to store the
weapons. The weapons are safe and we are safe.
Military storekeeper.

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28 |

CHAD, 2015.
Danemadji Toubard is a Police Officer in
Chad. She was trained thanks to German
Federal Foreign Office funding in February
2015, and is now a Trainer at the National
Police Academy.
The training I received reinforced what I
knew, as well as teaching me new things.
Safety and security with weapons is very
important and we have trained more than
2,000 recruits over the last nine months
since we received training from MAG.
We have passed on valuable knowledge
on securing weapons safely, logging them
in and out, keeping ammunition separate
during storage, safe handling, and so on.
Previously, I worked with the UN for five
years as a police officer helping Sudanese
refugees in Abch. US police taught
me about human rights and, since 2014,
I have been working here at the academy,
teaching police about human rights, and
now weapons safety as well.
I would like to thank MAG for the help I
have received. This will reduce accidents
and lessen the chance of weapons being
stolen. This is important for the police
and the communities as a whole.

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MALI, 2015.
Daily life in Sgou.

30 |

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