Southern African Development Community PREAMBLE We, the Heads of State or Government of the: Republic of Angola Republic of Botswana Democratic Republic of Congo Kingdom of Lesotho Republic of Malawi Republic of Mauritius Republic of Mozambique Republic of Namibia Republic of Seychelles Republic of South Africa Kingdom of Swaziland United Republic of Tanzania Republic of Zambia Republic of Zimbabwe CONSIDERING Article 21 of the Treaty which provides for areas of cooperation, Article 22 of the Treaty which provides for the conclusion of Protocols which may be necessary in agreed areas of cooperation and Article 5 of the Treaty which provides for promotion and defence of peace and security as one of the objectives of SADC; CONSCIOUS that illegal firearms, most commonly used in the perpetration of crime, contribute to the high levels of instability, extended conflict, violence and social dislocation evident in Southern Africa and the African continent as a whole; AWARE of the urgent need to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit manufacturing of firearms, ammunition and other related materials, and their excessive and destabilising accumulation, trafficking, possession and use, and owing to the harmful effects of those activities on the security of each State and the Region and the danger they pose to the well-being of people in the Region, their social and economic development and their rights to live in peace; REAFFIRMING that priority should be given to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit manufacturing of firearms, ammunition and other related materials and their excessive and destabilising accumulation, trafficking, possession and use of firearms, because of their links with, inter alia, drug trafficking, terrorism, transnational organised crime, mercenary and other violent criminal activities; Protocol on Control of Fire Arms, Ammunition and other related materials 1