Rwanda has urged the international community to move beyond commitments and focus on concrete, measurable action to combat the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, speaking at the ninth Biennial Meeting of States (BMS9) in New York this week.

The meeting, running from June 1–5, 2026, brings together member states to review implementation of the Programme of Action (PoA) and the International Tracing Instrument (ITI); two key frameworks designed to curb the global flow of illicit weapons.
Addressing delegates, Rwanda’s representative stressed that the stakes could not be higher.

“The illicit trade, diversion, and uncontrolled proliferation of small arms and light weapons continue to fuel conflict, armed violence, terrorism, and transnational organized crime, particularly in developing countries,” the delegation stated, warning that the humanitarian and socio-economic toll “remains severe, undermining international peace and security, weakening institutions and the rule of law.”

Rwanda aligned itself with the broader African Group statement before outlining its national priorities, making clear that implementation; not just aspiration;  must drive the agenda.

“For us, these instruments must focus not only on commitments, but on practical implementation, measurable progress and the means to address emerging security challenges, including new emerging technologies,” the delegation said.

The Rwandan delegation painted a sobering picture of the obstacles hampering progress, pointing to weak legislative frameworks, limited technical capacity, and inadequate infrastructure; particularly around ammunition management; as persistent barriers.

Officials also flagged “insufficient harmonized reporting and data collection mechanisms” and warned that risks of diversion remain at every stage of a weapon’s lifecycle, from stockpile management to brokering, marking, and tracing.

Rwanda put forward four areas it says demand urgent and sustained attention. First, the delegation called for genuine political will to tackle the root causes and “socioeconomic and environmental drivers” behind illicit arms trafficking.

Second, it pushed for stronger data collection and regional coordination, emphasizing that cooperation among national focal points and international partners “remains indispensable.”

Third, Rwanda argued that “sustained and predictable funding, capacity-building and training remains essential” to equip national institutions with the tools they need.

Finally, the delegation called for tougher diversion prevention measures, including better border management, cross-border cooperation, and greater public awareness.

Despite the challenges, Rwanda framed BMS9 as a critical turning point. “This meeting presents a timely opportunity to review progress achieved, identify remaining gaps, exchange best practices, and further strengthen international cooperation and technical assistance,” the delegation said.

Closing its remarks on a note of cautious optimism, Rwanda reaffirmed its commitment to multilateral solutions.

“Only through sustained dialogue, cooperation and shared responsibility can we achieve lasting progress toward international peace, security and sustainable development,” the representative concluded.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​