Disarmament in Review
On 11 and 12 September 2023 in Maputo, Mozambique, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) supported the African Union (AU) and the Government of Mozambique to organize the 2023 edition of Africa Amnesty Month (AAM). The core objective of the commemoration was to champion disarmament, arms control, and the establishment of sustainable peace throughout the African continent by encouraging the voluntary surrender of illicit arms held by civilians.
Ambassador Churchil Ewumbue-Monomo of Cameroon, Chairperson of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) for the month of September, led the AU delegation, and was joined by Mr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, AU High Representative for Silencing the Guns, and other members of the AU Peace and Security Council. On the Mozambican side, Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister Veronica Macamo delivered a keynote speech on behalf of the host country. UNREC represented the United Nations at the plenary session, to which the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy Mirko Manzoni and UN Resident Coordinator Catherine Sozi also actively participated. The programme was interlaced with various musical and cultural performances to further raise awareness on the commemoration.
During the opening session, UNREC delivered remarks on behalf of the United Nations High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu, shedding light on the concerns and problems arising from the illicit flow of small arms across Africa.
Mr. Manzoni also addressed the meeting, showcasing the achievements of the Mozambique peace and Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) process. Both High Representative Chambas and Chairperson Ewumbue-Monomo emphasized the paramount importance of continued collaboration between UNREC and the AU, with a specific focus on advancing arms control and disarmament from a human-centered perspective, contributing to the sustenance of peace and development in Africa. As part of the commemoration, the Office of Personal Envoy Manzoni hosted an informal discussion and an exhibition featuring photographs and audiovisual materials that highlighted the accomplishments of the Mozambique peace and DDR process.
On 13 September, the Director of UNREC, Mr. Anselme Yabouri, engaged in insightful exchanges with Personal Envoy Manzoni and Resident Coordinator Sozi concerning their respective mandates, while also acquainting them with UNODA’s mandate in Africa.
UNREC’s active participation in the 2023 AAM and its engagement with local UN leadership received widespread attention on social media platforms. In a bid to raise further awareness, concerted efforts were made to ensure comprehensive coverage of the event by both national and international media outlets, with collaborative support from the Mozambican Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UN in Mozambique.
The 2023 edition of the Africa Amnesty Month commemoration in Mozambique demonstrated the collaborative partnership between the African Union and the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs and signaled the growing momentum of this cooperation in promoting disarmament and peace on the continent.
