Commission on light arms set up

Troubled by the constant threat to its national security, Togo’s government formed a commission on Wednesday to halt the circulation and traffic of light weapons in the country.

The commission will plan a strategy for the government to use to deal with the proliferation of small arms, according to The Republic of Togo web site. The commission is made up of representatives of the head of state, the prime minister, ministries concerned with security, the human rights commission, religious figures and traditional chiefs.

Millions of small caliber weapons circulate in West Africa. Some have helped fuel conflicts in some countries; others have been used by criminal gangs. West African leaders, through the Economic Community of West African States, have vowed to stop the proliferation of these weapons.