Article 1
1. The Union shall contribute to the security and stability in the Sahel region by assisting States of this region to prevent the diversion of, and the illicit trafficking in, government-owned SALW and ammunition by improving their physical security and stockpile management (‘PSSM’). 2. The activities to be supported by the Union shall have the following specific objectives: (a) to generate the necessary political buy-in for the enhancement of PSSM procedures and promote regional cooperation and knowledge sharing; (b) to support target countries in the development of up-to-date legislation, administrative procedures and practical standard operating procedures (SOPs) as the foundation of enhanced PSSM, in line with international best practice standards; (c) to directly support the implementation of stockpile management and security activities, including through rehabilitation of storage facilities, destruction of surplus, obsolete or illicit SALW and the piloting of new technologies. A detailed description of these activities is set out in the Annex.