Regional Regulation of Small Arms and Light Weapons in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The proliferation of firearms is not new in the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, the movement has been taken huge scale with rebellion wars that this country has known and the combination of several factors: banditry, armed groups activities Congolese and foreign, ethnic, predatory and illegal exploitation of natural resources, spiraling poverty and inequality that generates misery and despair. But the illicit circulation of small arms and light weapons is a major problem that causes enormous consequences, namely: serious violations of human rights (rape, robbery, extortion, destruction of infrastructure, massacres, mutilation of body , moving people ...) and mortgage sustainable human development. This reflection has thus to drive the work of research on the issue of demand, possession, distribution, use, perception and the impact of small arms and light weapons in DRC . This article sheds light on the demands and unexpected challenges and critical to the success of the reduction of armed violence, which involves regulation of small arms and light weapons, to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the regional context.