SI Calls for Stronger Global Action on Ammunition Management at United Nations Meeting

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New York, 25 June 2025 —The Solomon Islands has urged the international community to strengthen global and regional cooperation on the management of conventional ammunition, highlighting the urgent challenges faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in dealing with unexploded ordnance (UXO) and securing ammunition stockpiles.

Speaking at the Preparatory Meeting of States on the Global Framework for Through-life Conventional Ammunition Management, UXO Director of the Ministry of Police National Security & Correctional Services, Benzily Kasutaba emphasized that for countries like the Solomon Islands, effective ammunition management is not just a policy issue but vital for national security, sustainable development, and environmental protection.

Director Kasutaba drew attention to the ongoing threat posed by World War II-era UXO scattered across the Solomon Islands, which continues to endanger communities, restrict land use, and hamper development.

 He also noted the additional challenge of securing current ammunition stockpiles, given the nation’s limited resources and the logistical difficulties of managing security across multiple islands.

Highlighting regional collaboration, the Solomon Islands acknowledged its active participation in the Pacific Islands Forum’s Regional UXO Strategy and partnerships with neighboring countries such as Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, and Fiji.

The nation also recognized its cooperation with the United States and The HALO Trust in conducting the first national survey of UXO contamination, underscoring the benefits of shared expertise and coordinated action.

Director Kasutaba called for the new Global Framework to strengthen and expand existing regional mechanisms for knowledge exchange and joint training, provide tailored, sustainable capacity-building programs that address the unique needs of SIDS, focusing on long-term national capabilities, and prioritize environmentally responsible ammunition management, including safe disposal methods to protect fragile marine ecosystems.

The Solomon Islands appealed to developed nations and international organizations to offer predictable and sustainable financial support, technical assistance, and technology transfer, stressing that the burden of implementation should not fall disproportionately on the least-resourced countries facing the greatest challenges.

Concluding his statement, Director Kasutaba reaffirmed the Solomon Islands’ commitment to a robust Global Framework that is inclusive, practical, and responsive to the needs of all states. “Together, we can create safer communities, protect our environments, and build a more secure future for generations to come,” he stated.

-MPNSCS Press