West Africa Action Network on Small Arms, WAANSA, in line with the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons, has taken the campaign for peace in Sahel Region to the 2026 World Order Security Congress in Vienna, Austria.

The United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons, a global framework where member-states committed to improving national regulations, stockpile management, weapons marking, and international cooperation to reduce the illicit trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons, SALW, emphasises the importance of regional and international cooperation to tackle such menace.

World border security congress, a global annual leading platform for border protection and management, brought together professionals to deliberate, share experiences in the challenges and profer solutions.

In his presentation at the conference, WAANSA director of Programmes, Engr. Francisco Chidi George-Okoli called on the international community to unite towards proactive initiatives capable of ending conflict in the Sahel Region, as it presently remains a threat to global peace.

George-Okoli in his Speech titled ‘The Sahel Region and the Emerging Threat of Border Security in West Africa, explained that with 51.9 percent of world terrorism-related deaths, WAANSA called for coordinated cross-border cooperation and renforcement of border governance frame work

WAANSA also called for global support for world security congress based on their efforts which has contributed emensly to realisation of sustainable egoals and Agenda 2030.