Regional Center on Small Arms (RECSA) on Tuesday expressed regret over the capture of the military cargo by the Somali pirates, saying the incident was a security risk to the entire region.
A statement from the Nairobi-based RECSA which is charged with the coordination of action against the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons in the Great Lakes Region, Horn of Africa and Bordering States urged regional states to urgently secure the dangerous weapons.
"Not only does the action by the pirates have potential to erode the gains made so far in efforts to reduce the number of illegal small arms and light weapons in circulation, it also poses a serious threat to the security of Somalia and the region as a whole," the statement said.
The RECSA calls on the Kenya government and friendly neighboring and foreign states to move with haste to secure this potentially dangerous cargo. In addition, more effort should be made in finding a lasting solution to the conflict in the war-torn Horn of Africa nation," said the RECSA.
The Belize-flagged Faina vessel was seized last Thursday carrying an authorized Ukrainian government arms shipment for the Kenyan government, including 30 type T-72 tanks, an extra number of armored personnel carriers to be used by the military in the country.
Source: Xinhua
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