5 - 7 December 2023
More than 40 million small arms on the African continent are being held by non-state actors including private individuals, registered businesses such as private companies, and non-state armed groups. Almost 80% of these small arms are unregistered and unmarked, therefore very difficult to trace for investigation and prosecution purposes, according to figures presented in a report published jointly by the African Union Commission and Small Arms Survey. In West Africa, close to 11 million arms are being held by civilians in the region, the largest number in Africa, with most being imported.
Research by Small Arms Survey indicates that there is a link between the spread of terrorist groups across the West African region and the increase in the demand for Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALWs) and associated ammunitions. SALWs are not only used by terrorist groups for attacks but are also a lucrative trafficking commodity underlining the nexus between terrorism and transnational organized crime. Terrorist groups, including foreign terrorist fighters, continue to exploit and benefit from porous borders and limited State presence to smuggle arms across borders. These various dimensions require a multifaceted approach to strengthen national and regional legislation, criminal justice chain responses, and comprehensive and integrated border security management strategies.
Building on the West Africa Working Group (WA WG) regional meeting in June 2023 on disrupting terrorist Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) networks in West Africa, the WA WG held their second Disrupt the Networks event; Preventing terrorist groups from acquiring Small Arms and Light Weapons, Ammunitions and Unmanned Aircraft Systems in West Africa with special focus on the proliferation of SALWs, associated ammunition, and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS): a three-day in-person regional event in Banjul, The Gambia, from 5-7 December 2023, with United
Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as implementing partner. Participants included senior officials from law enforcement, defense and security forces, intelligence agencies and judiciary from GCTF Member States and non-Member States from the West Africa region.
The event allowed participants to share experiences, good practices, and lessons learned through in-depth discussions, practical examples, and case studies to strengthen the capacities of national law enforcement, intelligence agencies and judicial actors on the detection and disruption of SALWs and associated ammunition. The broad discussion incorporated UAS networks and supply chains, as well as the investigation and prosecution of related terrorist crimes. The event also aimed to identify ways to enhance national and regional cooperation and information sharing. Based on recommendations developed during the regional event, concrete capacity-building activities will be implemented by UNODC and partners to support West African Governments in counterterrorism efforts.
