By Saidu Jalloh, Reporter D.S.
The Sierra Leone Commission on Arms and Ammunition (SLeCAA) has officially commenced the destruction of unserviceable weapons across the nation, marking a significant step towards enhancing national security and curbing the dangers posed by illicit arms circulation.
This nationwide operation began on March 9, 2025, and will continue until March 13, 2025, in the cities of Makeni, Teko, Bo, and Kenema. Major General Christian Fahim Marah, the Commissioner of SLeCAA, is overseeing the exercise.
Destruction activities in the Western Area are scheduled to take place from March 15 to March 23, 2025. This joint effort involves collaboration between the Sierra Leone Police (SLP), the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), and SLeCAA. The initiative is part of Sierra Leone’s broader strategy to manage and control small arms and light weapons (SALW) in compliance with the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).
The exercise will involve the destruction of state-owned unserviceable weapons as well as weapons seized by the judiciary. Its primary objective is to mitigate the risk of these arms falling into the wrong hands and to prevent a resurgence of violence reminiscent of the country’s 11-year civil war.
By undertaking this large-scale destruction initiative, the government aims to diminish the potential for these weapons to be used in criminal activities or to be re-acquired by rebel groups or insurgents. The operation is expected to significantly reduce the stockpile of obsolete weapons held by both military and law enforcement agencies, thereby limiting the opportunities for these arms to re-enter the civilian population.
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