It is probably the interplay of these three kinds of factors that determine whether armed violence breaks out. Once it has broken out, a ready supply of the tools of violence plays a major role in the spread, intensification and prolongation of the fighting. We were told that 5 million arms are circulating in the Horn region, but the source and reliability of this figure are not quite clear. Someone said that governments are the major sources of weapons in the Horn. These may be exporting governments, governments involved in the trafficking of arms, and governments allowing or ordering the import of arms.
Police play a key role in small arms control.
If they can gain the trust of the population and effectively control the use, possession and trading of arms, they will make a big difference for the better. One of the major contributions that development cooperation can make to prevent armed violence is to help provide jobs, incomes and futures for the group most likely to engage in such violence, namely male adolescents.