Proliferation of Illicit Small Arms and Light weapons has greatly affected security in the African region, making it difficult to maintain peace.

Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula says the weapons continued to find their way into many African countries, exacerbating wars which continue to adversely affect the economic development of the continent while causing untold human suffering.

In a speech read on his behalf by Ambassador Josephine Ngaita during an European Union Kick-off seminar in Nairobi the minister said organized crimes and acts of terrorism have been on the rise due to availability of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW).

"Many countries have tried to address the problem of the illicit trade and circulation of these arms but it has proved very difficult to eliminate the problem individually," Mudavadi said.

He said there was need for partnership to ensure integration of both national and regional effort to address the problem.

The European Union is funding a pilot project on the fight against illicit accumulation and trafficking of firearms in Africa to the tune of 344 million shillings.

The funds will be channelled through the Nairobi-based Regional Centre on Small Arms in Great Lakes Region, the Horn of Africa and Bordering States.

European Commission representative Daniela Dicorrado-Andreoni said the project, would be the first Pan African action against the illicit trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons.

She said the project would address the capacity of national law enforcement agencies and of the African Regional Police Chiefs Organizations (RPCOs) to work together to fight cross border illicit trafficking in firearms and explosive materials.

The project is expected to create awareness and build the capacity of national authorities, civil society organizations and parliamentarians to support the work of the National Commission and the Adoption of National Action Plans (NAPs) where they are not in place.

Regional Centre on Small Arms and Light Weapons in the Great Lakes Region and Horn of Africa (RECSA) Executive Secretary Dr. Francis Sang said the project would support Africa- EU strategic partnership in the fight against illicit accumulation and trafficking of fire arms and explosive materials.

"Africa is often the dumping ground for such weapons from manufacturing countries and plays host to the great number of armed conflicts," Sang said adding that the continent suffers the consequences of the easy availability of the weapons.