The African Union’s policies on small arms proliferation across the region have been met with widespread criticism, with accusations of favouritism and concerns over human rights violations. Experts argue that these policies have trampled on fundamental freedoms, yet governments defend them as necessary measures to maintain national security and stability. The lingering question among citizens remain: Are African governments genuinely protecting their people, or are they advancing their political self-interest under the guise of arms control?
African leaders have made multiple commitments at continental and international levels. One of these commitments is the Bamako Declaration of December 2000, where ministers of African Union (then OAU) member states met in Mali to develop a common position on arms control ahead of the 2001 United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons.
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This declaration recognised the deep-seated challenges posed by arms circulation across Africa, acknowledging progress made at national and regional levels while also highlighting gaps that continue to fuel instability. Various sub-regional initiatives have since emerged, such as the ECOWAS Moratorium of 1998, the Nairobi Protocol of 2000, and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Firearms Protocol, each aimed at reducing arms trafficking and enforcing stricter controls.
Despite these efforts, statistics reveal a grim reality. According to the Small Arms Survey, an estimated 40 million, approximately 80% of small arms and light weapons, are in circulation across Africa, with a significant proportion in the hands of non-state actors. The widespread availability of these weapons has fuelled conflicts in regions such as the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, and the Great Lakes, exacerbating humanitarian crises.
The survey also estimates that of the one billion firearms in global circulation as of 2017, 857 million (85 percent) are in civilian hands, 133 million (13 percent) are in military arsenals, and 23 million (2 percent) are owned by law enforcement agencies. The new studies suggest that the global stockpile has increased over the past decade, largely due to civilian holdings, which grew from 650 million in 2006 to 857 million in 2017.
The Weight of Data
Statistically, Africa’s struggle with arms control is paradoxical. While most governments impose strict firearm regulations, conflict zones remain saturated with illegal weapons. The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) reports that Africa loses over $18 billion annually to armed conflicts fuelled by small arms proliferation. The illicit arms trade is rampant in regions like the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, and Central Africa, with Nigeria, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Libya being among the worst hit by armed violence. In West Africa alone, 7 out of 10 violent deaths are linked to small arms, according to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The irony is clear: stringent gun laws have not deterred arms from reaching criminal networks, insurgents, and even government-backed militias.
The Gun and the People: Lessons from Pro-Arms Nations
The argument for self-defence is a recurring one. Proponents of gun rights point to nations like the United States and Switzerland, where firearm ownership is embedded in legal and cultural traditions. However, the results have been mixed. In the U.S., where there are more guns than people (approximately 393 million civilian-owned guns), gun-related violence remains a significant issue, with over 45,000 gun deaths recorded in 2022 alone. In contrast, Switzerland, which has one of the highest gun ownership rates in Europe, records fewer than 300 gun-related deaths annually due to stringent background checks and responsible ownership policies.
For Africa, the challenge is unique. Countries like South Africa and Kenya have experimented with relatively relaxed firearm laws, but the results have been alarming. In South Africa, where there are more than 2.3 million registered civilian gun owners, violent crime has remained high, with over 7000 murders recorded in 2019/2020, according to the South African Police Service. In contrast, Kenya, which has a strict licensing system, still faces threats from armed groups like Al-Shabaab, raising doubts about whether arms control truly equates to national security.
Armed for Defence
Despite strict regulations, African governments themselves rely heavily on weapons to maintain control and fight insurgencies. Countries like Nigeria and Burkina Faso have armed civilian militias to combat groups like Boko Haram and jihadist factions. In Nigeria’s northeast, the government has armed over 30,000 Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) members to counter Boko Haram, a policy that has had mixed results, reducing some attacks but also leading to reports of extrajudicial killings and human rights abuses. Similarly, Ethiopia’s Tigray conflict saw the distribution of weapons to local forces, fuelling more violence rather than resolving conflict. The contradiction is glaring; while governments disarm civilians, they simultaneously use firearms to fortify their rule.
A Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
A close look at historical events reveals a troubling pattern: nations that enforce extreme arms control often become fertile ground for oppression and unchecked government power. In Rwanda before the 1994 genocide, the Hutu-led government restricted Tutsi access to weapons, making them defenceless against state-backed militias. The same scenario played out in Sudan’s Darfur region, where government-supported militias carried out ethnic cleansing against unarmed communities. When citizens lack the means to defend themselves, oppressive regimes and armed groups gain the upper hand, turning arms control into a self-fulfilling prophecy of violence.
Balancing Security and Rights
The debate over arms control in Africa boils down to one fundamental dilemma: security versus freedom. While governments argue that restricting gun ownership is necessary for national stability, data suggest that such policies often fail to curb violence. Instead, they sometimes empower regimes to suppress opposition and leave citizens vulnerable to crime and insurgency.
To navigate this complex issue, African leaders must strike a balance between arms regulation and human rights. Policies should focus on tackling the illicit arms trade, enforcing accountability, and ensuring that security forces are held to human rights standards. More importantly, governments must acknowledge that disarmament, if done selectively, breeds resentment and weakens trust between the state and its citizens. If Africa is to truly control its weapons problem, it must do so with a policy of fairness, transparency, and respect for fundamental freedoms, not as a means to consolidate power.
The Future of Arms Control in Africa
With Africa’s history of conflict and political instability, arms control remains one of the most sensitive policy areas on the continent. However, the lessons from both arms-permissive and arms-restrictive nations indicate that extreme policies, whether in favour of gun rights or against them, lead to unintended consequences.
A future where Africans are both secure and free will require governments to tackle corruption in arms deals, eliminate favouritism in gun licensing, and create transparent policies that serve national interests without compromising human rights. Until then, the question of whether arms control is a threat to human rights or a necessary evil for national interest will remain a debate with no easy answers.
