The FCO is helping Guinea Bissau to heal the wounds of conflict by funding a programme to collect and destroy small and light weapons and ammunition.

The FCO-supported project is important - practically and symbolically - as the country begins its economic and psychological recovery.

Political instability

After gaining independence from Portugal in 1974, years of political instability dogged this small west African republic, culminating in two years of civil war at the end of the nineties. For decades weapons and ammunition flooded into the country as different political groups vied for power. By the end of the civil war the country was strewn with deadly unexploded mines.

Weapons-clearing project

The weapons-clearing project is run by a UK-based voluntary organisation, Cleared Ground Demining.  They are working with and training a local group, Lutamos Todos Contra As Minas (translated as ‘Our Common Fight Against Mines), and are also undertaking extensive work to remove and destroy unexploded mines.

Over the last few months the UK government has given over £150,000 towards weapon-clearing and destruction equipment - including vehicles and an explosive waste incinerator – for the project.  

Joint initiative

The funds came from the Conflict Prevention Pool, a joint initiative between the FCO, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Department for International Development DFID.

The money enabled the project’s Military Stockpile Team to continue the work they began as a result of initial funding from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US Department of State.

Many tonnes of weapons

With FCO funding the team has collected and destroyed 33 tonnes of weapons in the last four months.  Over 100 tonnes have been destroyed in total, including rocket launchers and assault rifles. A huge amount of ammunition has also been eliminated.

The UK ambassador from the Dakar Embassy, Senegal has been to see the project in action, as have staff from DfiD; both praised the work of Cleared Ground and LUTCAM.

The Small Arms and Light Weapons project is part of wider conflict prevention programmes in various parts of the world.

Read more about our work in the prevention and resolution of conflict.