Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Uganda Monitor
Published on 2024-03-10 12:24:28
In the East Africa region, security chiefs are turning to new technology to combat the illegal smuggling of arms. By improving tracking methods of the sources, border patrols, and inventories of weapons in legitimate hands, they hope to address the alarming proliferation of small arms on the continent. Delegates from 26 African countries recently convened in Nairobi to discuss a common position on arms control, in preparation for a global conference later this year.
The threat of small arms being traded illegally in Africa was a major point of concern during the discussions. These weapons are fueling conflicts and hindering efforts to establish long-term peace on the continent. The issue of tracing these arms is particularly challenging, as Africa has become a vast market for small arms.
Raymond Omollo, Kenya’s Interior Principal Secretary, emphasized the existential threat that the proliferation and misuse of small and light weapons pose to Africa’s peace, cohesion, and stability. Banditry in Kenya has been exacerbated by the easy access to small arms, often smuggled across borders.
To address these challenges, the African Union (AU) is working to establish a common policy with member states to curb the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. This unified approach will require funding and new technologies for tracing arms from their source to end-users, as well as monitoring expiries or recycling.
The AU’s goal of “silencing the guns” by 2030 hinges on a coordinated effort among African countries. The Bamako Declaration on an African Common Position on Illicit Arms aims to facilitate collective action on illicit arms proliferation. However, the effectiveness of these efforts depends on stable governance and cooperation among governments across the continent.
Controlling arms imports and exports is a more immediate and tangible approach to addressing the issue. Despite arms embargoes in place for countries like South Sudan, illicit arms continue to flow, perpetuating conflicts and instability. The upcoming conference in New York aims to tackle the challenge of arms tracing and establish an action plan for combating the illicit proliferation of small arms and weapons.
The United Nations, through its Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs, stresses the importance of addressing the easy availability of small arms in Eastern and Southern Africa. The region’s security and development efforts are hindered by the proliferation of illicit weapons, which fuel terrorism, poaching, and armed insurgencies.
In Africa, an estimated 40% of gun ownership is illicit, with approximately 40 million small arms present on the continent. Globally, one billion small arms are in circulation, contributing to some 250,000 deaths annually. The impact of small arms on violent deaths is significant, with 45% of global violent deaths attributed to these weapons.
The Africa Organized Crime Index 2023 highlights the prevalence of human trafficking and arms trafficking in Eastern African states. These criminal markets pose serious challenges to security and stability in the region. Addressing the illicit proliferation of small arms and weapons requires a multi-faceted approach, incorporating technology, policy coordination, and international cooperation.
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