Drawing on data from 13 RECSA Member States, the study establishes 2005 and 2025 baselines across 16 thematic areas. The review finds clear progress in the implementation of the Nairobi Protocol. Member States have reinforced national legislation and established transfer control systems, while improving stockpile management, weapons marking and record-keeping. Controls over civilian possession and commercial actors have also expanded, alongside growing institutional and enforcement capacity. Yet implementation remains uneven, with persistent weaknesses in legislation, cross-border cooperation, civilian licensing, border control, tracing, record-keeping, and the collection and destruction of illicit and surplus SALW.

The report recommends that RECSA Member States undertake a review of the Nairobi Protocol to strengthen existing provisions, align it with global and African frameworks, and address new and emerging threats. By identifying effective practices and common challenges, this scorecard provides an analytical foundation for amending the Nairobi Protocol, revising its Best Practice Guidelines and developing a five-year action plan, which will in turn equip States with updated guidance for effective SALW control.

Citation: Ruben Nicolin, Lillian Wamuyu, Benjamin Agage and Paul Holtom. The Nairobi Protocol on Small Arms and Light Weapons at 20: A Regional Implementation Scorecard. Geneva, Nairobi: UNIDIR, RECSA, 2026. https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/26/ASC/03.

The post The Nairobi Protocol on Small Arms and Light Weapons at 20: A Regional Implementation Scorecard first appeared on UNIDIR.

After a decade of reporting under the ATT, how much transparency exists regarding transfers of SALW? What has changed in practice? This policy brief examines reporting trends for the period 2015–2024 and assesses what the available data reveal about how ATT States Parties implement the Treaty’s obligations.

It highlights both the progress and the worrying trends in State reporting on international transfers of SALW and explores how additional national reporting practices, such as information on brokering authorisations and licence denials, could further strengthen understanding of the global authorised SALW trade. The analysis aims to provide food for thought ahead of the March 2026 meetings of the ATT Working Group on Transparency and Reporting.

Citation: Lara Maria Guedes Gonçalves Costa and Paul Holtom. Arms Trade Treaty Reporting on Small Arms Transfers: What Have We Learned? Geneva: UNIDIR, 2026

The post Arms Trade Treaty Reporting on Small Arms Transfers: What Have We Learned? first appeared on UNIDIR.

Against this background, UNIDIR, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa organized in 2023 a regional seminar on preventing violent extremism (PVE) and weapons and ammunition management (WAM) in West Africa. The seminar called for adopting an integrated approach to both issues and recommended a study to support this paradigm shift.

This empirical study examines an integrated approach to address the illicit supply of weapons and the root causes of violence by analyzing intersections between PVE and WAM across policy frameworks, institutions and operational practices. It identifies existing good examples of integrating PVE and WAM and explores promising, context-specific opportunities in the region. The study derives practical steps to support States, regional and continental organizations, UN entities and other stakeholders in operationalizing such an integrated approach in West Africa and beyond.

Citation: United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa, and Peace and Human Rights Division of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, “Integrating the Prevention of Violent Extremism and Illicit Weapons Proliferation in West Africa: A Way Forward”, Geneva, 2026, https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/26/PACAV/02 

The post Integrating the Prevention of Violent Extremism and Illicit Weapons Proliferation in West Africa: A Way Forward first appeared on UNIDIR.

This report analyses key trends in the use of UASs by NSAGs in Myanmar, with a particular focus on post-coup developments. It aims to provide researchers, policymakers and practitioners with an overview of how these systems have been adopted and employed by various groups across the country, and of their implications for evolving conflict dynamics. It examines the types of NSAGs deploying UASs, the geographical distribution of incidents, as well as the primary targets and impacts of their operations. The report also explores trends in the craft-production, modification and weaponization of these systems, identifying the key factors enabling the rapid adoption and diffusion of UAS capabilities among NSAGs, including the widespread availability of commercial components, access to open-source knowledge, decentralized knowledge-sharing networks and improvised production practices.

By examining the Myanmar case, the report provides insights into the expanding role of uncrewed systems in contemporary armed conflicts. It highlights the challenges that the growing development and use of these systems may pose for existing arms control frameworks, as well as for international security and stability more broadly.

Citation: Joshua Angelo Estrada Bata and Bárbara Morais Figueiredo, “The use of uncrewed aerial systems by non-State armed groups: Exploring trends in Myanmar”. Geneva: UNIDIR, 2026. https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/26/ERC/01

The post The Use of Uncrewed Aerial Systems by Non-State Armed Groups: Exploring Trends in Myanmar first appeared on UNIDIR.

It explores how a data-driven approach can better enable States and their armed forces to identify risks to civilians during the planning and execution of such operations and to manage those risks more effectively. The report also considers how data can inform the review and development of policies and operational practices, as well as supporting functions such as training, doctrine, capabilities, processes and leadership structures.

Drawing on good practices and lessons learned, the report provides practical considerations to guide a meaningful and effective implementation of the Declaration, and concludes with recommendations on leveraging data to achieve its ultimate goal: strengthening the protection of civilians and reducing harm from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.

Citation: Bárbara Morais Figueiredo and Larry Lewis, “Leveraging Data to Reduce Civilian Harm during Military Operations in Populated Areas:Practical, Data-Driven Steps to Implement the Political Declaration on EWIPA” UNIDIR, Geneva, 2025.

The post Leveraging Data to Reduce Civilian Harm during Military Operations in Populated Areas: Practical, Data-Driven Steps to Implement the Political Declaration on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas first appeared on UNIDIR.

By mid-2025, 18 States – including 14 in Africa – had assessed and made efforts to strengthen their national frameworks governing the management of weapons and ammunition through their life cycle using UNIDIR’s reference methodology for national WAM baseline assessments. This methodology identifies key functional areas for WAM. These range from establishing national coordination mechanisms, strategies and legal frameworks to strengthening controls over transfers, manage stockpiles, improvements to accountability through marking and record-keeping systems, dealing with illicit arms and ammunition, and final disposal.

This is the fourth annual update by UNIDIR to recognize the progress made to strengthen WAM policies and practices by those 14 African States. Information analysed for this update was collected primarily through meetings and interviews with national focal points and lead authorities, regional organizations, United Nations entities, and expert non-governmental organizations between mid-2024 and mid-2025. This annual WAM update provides an analysis of progress across the regional baseline of policy and practice, and highlights persistent, context-specific and emerging challenges. The update presents national examples of practices and activities that have helped overcome some of these challenges, as well as examples of progress that is being made in strengthening national WAM frameworks in often challenging environments.

The exchange of good practices and lessons learned in strengthening WAM policy and practice in Africa seeks to enhance the knowledge of States, regional organizations and international partners on ways to establish and implement comprehensive national and regional frameworks governing the full lifecycle of arms and ammunition.

UNIDIR encourages the community of States, regional organizations and relevant international partners to consult its WAM country insight and annual update series as a useful reference to support the planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation for future WAM projects.

Citation: Theò Bajon,“Weapons and Ammunition Management in Africa Insight: 2025 Update”, UNIDIR, Geneva, 2025. https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/25/WAM/10.

The post Weapons and Ammunition Management in Africa Insight: 2025 Update first appeared on UNIDIR.

By examining an exploratory case study – Kenya – it compares stated security priorities with actual expenditures to assess alignment and promote transparency. The analysis reveals inconsistencies and challenges, including irregular reporting practices, difficulties in tracking expenditures due to frequent institutional reorganization, and a lack of transparency in certain sectors. The Kenya case study underscores the need for greater transparency, coordination and oversight in national security budgeting. Strengthening the link between stated priorities and actual expenditures is essential for effective governance, enhanced oversight and achieving long-term security outcomes.

Citation: Alexandra Kuimova, Anabel García García, Zubaida Karim and Nan Tian, “Evaluating the alignment between budgetary allocations and national security priorities. Exploratory Case Study: Kenya”, UNIDIR, Geneva, 2025. https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/25/ERC/09.  

The post Evaluating the Alignment Between Budgetary Allocations and National Security Priorities. Exploratory Case Study: Kenya first appeared on UNIDIR.

The issue brief addresses existing discussions and good practices on end-use/r controls and how ATT States Parties use end-use/r controls, including documentation, within their own diversion-prevention measures. It also aims to improve understanding of underutilized potential and to identify options that could be pursued to strengthen control systems in order to more effectively implement the ATT’s provisions on diversion prevention and related efforts.

This brief is intended to inform the ongoing exchange of national implementation practices within the ATT, specifically the discussion on national import controls, and future deliberations on intersecting issues.

This is the sixth in a series of ATT issue briefs released as part of joint research by the research consortium composed of UNIDIR, Conflict Armament Research and the Stimson Center. Established in 2019, the consortium provides research, technical advice, expertise and tools to enhance knowledge of the ATT and facilitate dialogue among States, strengthen shared understanding of the impact of the treaty in addressing diversion risks, and identify avenues to promote effective policies and practices under the treaty.

Citation: Paula Soumaya Domit, Rachel Stohl, Natalie Bramlett, Rob Hunter-Perkins, and Ishtiaq Khan (2025), “The Arms Trade Treaty Preventing Diversion Through End-Use and End-User Controls”, issue brief No. 6, UNIDIR, Conflict Armament Research, and Stimson Center. https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/25/WAM/08. 

The post The Arms Trade Treaty: Preventing Diversion Through End-Use and End-User Controls first appeared on UNIDIR.

This country insight presents the main findings of the WAM follow-up assessment conducted in March 2023 by the Government of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, through the National Commission for the Fight against the Proliferation and Illicit Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons, in cooperation with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and UNIDIR. The publication draws from the comprehensive follow-up assessment report shared by UNIDIR in cooperation with ECOWAS to the Government of Côte d’Ivoire and sheds light on the progress made since the initial 2016 baseline assessment (last country insight report). It includes information on existing institutional and operational capacities, policies and procedures, as well as challenges faced by Ivorian authorities at strategic and operational levels and options for further strengthening the national framework governing through-life management of weapons and ammunition in the Ivory coast.

UNIDIR encourages States, regional and sub-regional organisations, and relevant international partners to consult this Côte d’Ivoire WAM country insight, as well as its country insight series and annual updates. These resources can serve as a basis for strengthening WAM policies and practices at different levels and for planning, implementing and evaluating future projects related to WAM and areas in Côte d’Ivoire as well as other African States respectively.

Citation: Theò Bajon.”Weapons and Ammunition Management Country Insight: Republic of Côte d’Ivoire”, UNIDIR, Geneva, 2025. https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/25/WAM/06. 

The post Weapons and Ammunition Management Country Insight: Republic of Côte d’Ivoire first appeared on UNIDIR.

In response, the UN General Assembly adopted the Global Framework for Through-life Conventional Ammunition Management in December 2023 – the first international instrument dedicated to conventional ammunition, which complements the existing normative framework for conventional arms including small arms and light weapons control and management. Member States have committed to 15 objectives aimed at promoting safe, secure and sustainable through-life conventional ammunition management at all levels.

To support implementation of this Framework, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), UNIDIR’s Conventional Arms and Ammunition Programme, the Ammunition Management Advisory Team of the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD-AMAT), and Conflict Armament Research (CAR) have jointly developed this voluntary guide. The guide is intended to assist stakeholders in turning the Framework’s objectives into practical, context-specific actions. It unpacks the 15 objectives, elaborates on common and additional enabling measures, and provides examples, existing good practices and case studies to inspire effective implementation of the commitments.

Support from UNIDIR’s core funders provides the foundation for all of the Institute’s activities. This joint project and the guide were made possible through financial support received by the European Union, France, Germany and Switzerland.

Citation: UNIDIR, UNODA, CAR, GICHD-AMAT. “Implementing the Global Framework for Through-life Conventional Ammunition Management A Voluntary Guide”, Geneva, 2025.

The post Implementing the Global Framework for Through-life Conventional Ammunition Management: A Voluntary Guide first appeared on UNIDIR.

To help overcome these challenges, this insights report presents lessons learned and practical measures to support effective reporting. It addresses four guiding questions:

• What could be the purposes and benefits of reporting on national implementation of the Framework?
• What could be the modalities for reporting on national implementation of the Framework?
• How can States be supported in reporting on national implementation?
• How could national reports be used to help achieve the Framework’s goals and objectives?

Citation: Ruben Nicolin, Paul Holtom, and Anabel García García,“Insights from Reporting on Conventional Arms Control: Supporting Preparations for Reporting on Implementation of the Global Framework for Through-Life Conventional Ammunition Management”, UNIDIR, Geneva, 2025.https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/25/ERC/04.

The post Insights from Reporting on Conventional Arms Control: Supporting Preparations for Reporting on Implementation of the Global Framework for Through-life Conventional Ammunition Management first appeared on UNIDIR.

Conflict early-warning efforts need access to all relevant data that can improve their performance. Data on flows of conventional arms and ammunition could be relevant for such efforts: weapons flows into unstable regions have long been considered as a possible signal of a future outbreak, escalation or relapse of armed conflict. However, arms flow data is only used sporadically for early warning, and its potential remains underexplored.

To address this gap, the UNIDIR, Conflict Armament Research (CAR), the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) and the Violence and Impacts Early-Warning System (VIEWS) launched the initiative ‘Building Bridges and Incubating Ideas for Stronger Conflict Prevention: Harnessing Arms and Ammunition Flow Data for Early Warning’ to foster use of arms flow data for more effective early warning.

This insight distills the key takeaways and pathways for action that emerged from expert exchanges within this joint initiative.

Visit the Arms Flows and Early Warning Dashboard for a mapping of available arms and ammunition flows data, as well as early warning initiatives.

Citation: Joshua Angelo Bata, Matilde Vecchioni, and Ursign Hofmann (2025) “Pathways to Action: Harnessing Arms Flow Data for Conflict Early Warning, Insights from 2024 expert exchanges”, UNIDIR, CAR, PRIO, VIEWS. https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/25/PACAV/07.

The post Pathways to Action: Harnessing Arms Flow Data for Conflict Early Warning first appeared on UNIDIR.

This Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) issue brief is intended to support the efforts of ATT States Parties to implement the treaty’s brokering and related provisions. Since the treaty’s entry into force, no dedicated dialogue has occurred under the ATT framework on the regulation and control of brokers and brokering in conventional arms. A number of questions, knowledge gaps and key issues have thus remained unresolved since the negotiation of the treaty. This issue brief addresses some of these gaps by identifying key issues that merit further consideration by States and other interested parties. It is intended to provide a basis for discussions on the complex issue of regulating arms brokering by the ATT Working Group on Effective Treaty Implementation.

This is the fifth in a series of ATT issue briefs released as part of joint research by the research consortium composed of UNIDIR, Conflict Armament Research and the Stimson Center. The research consortium, established in 2019, provides research, technical advice, expertise and tools to States and other interested parties to enhance knowledge and facilitate dialogue among states, strengthen shared understanding of the impact of the ATT in addressing risks of diversion and identify avenues to further promote effective policies and practises under the treaty.

Citation: Hardy Giezendanner, Anna Mensah-Sackey, Ishtiaq Khan, Rob Hunter-Perkins, Rachel Stohl, “The Arms Trade Treaty: Regulating Brokering to Reduce the Risk of Diversion”, UNIDIR, Geneva, 2025, https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/25/ASC/04.

The post The Arms Trade Treaty: Regulating Brokering to Reduce the Risk of Diversion first appeared on UNIDIR.

This UNIDIR research examines trends in the development and use of UMS between 2019 and 2024, identifying 60 UMS programmes across 17 countries that have utilized a wide range of systems. More than 40 attacks took place during the same period, with a notable rise since 2023.

The United Nations Register of Conventional Arms could play an important role in enhancing mutual trust and confidence between States if it were to contain information on international transfers and acquisitions of armed UMS. Due to their technical characteristics, however, most UMS fall outside the Register’s reporting categories, therefore remaining unreported.

This research puts forward four options for consideration by the Group of Governmental Experts in 2024-2025 on the continuing operation and future development of the Register. These options could also be considered by States participating in other multilateral instruments that contribute to increasing transparency in international transfers and acquisitions.

Citation: Anabel García García, Sarah Grand-Clément, Paul Holtom, “Changing Tides in Maritime Warfare: Closing the Reporting Gap on Uncrewed Maritime Systems in the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms”, UNIDIR, Geneva, 2025, https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/25/ERC/03.

The post Changing Tides in Maritime Warfare: Closing the Reporting Gap on Uncrewed Maritime Systems in the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms first appeared on UNIDIR.

With this in mind, the Liberia National Commission on Arms (LiNCA) and UNIDIR decided to organize the Monrovia Workshop to Support Universalization and Effective Implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty to provide the first pan-African platform to take stock of and share information on how African states have overcome challenges to becoming states parties to the ATT and in implementing the treaty’s provisions. With sponsorship from the ATT Voluntary Trust Fund, LiNCA and UNIDIR convened the four-day Monrovia Workshop on 18–21 March 2024. The workshop brought together  representatives from the national governments of 19 African states, as well as representatives from the ATT Secretariat, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the Regional Centre on Small Arms and the Southern African Development Community.

This report summarizes the key findings from the pre-workshop questionnaire and the exchanges that took place during the workshop. It provides effective measures and lessons learned from the workshop that can be useful for ATT states parties, signatories and other stakeholders in Africa, as well as other regions.

Citation: Anna Mensah-Sackey and Paul Holtom, “Universalization and Effective Implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty in Africa Lessons learned from the 2024 Monrovia Workshop”, UNIDIR, Geneva, 2024. https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/25/ASC/02.

The post Universalization and Effective Implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty in Africa Lessons learned from the 2024 Monrovia Workshop first appeared on UNIDIR.

If men are at the centre of the global armed violence epidemic, it clearly has something to do with their gender. The report explains that when frustrated young men in contexts of persistent poverty gain easy access to small arms and ammunition, it creates a significant risk of an epidemic of lethal violence. This prompts the question: What work is being undertaken with men using a masculinities focus to prevent armed violence? The answer, in short, is none. Efforts to reduce armed violence that do not consider masculinities will only have a limited effect.

The report suggests that greater debate about this issue is required and that the United Nations can lead progress by developing initiatives in collaboration with Member States, academia and civil society partners. However, to achieve this goal, greater advocacy, political support and funding are vital. 

Citation: Adam Baird, “No man’s land? Focusing on men to reduce global armed violence”, UNIDIR, Geneva, 2025. https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/25/PACAV/01.

The post No Man’s Land? Focusing on Men to Reduce Global Armed Violence first appeared on UNIDIR.

Between 2 July and 5 September 2024, UNIDIR and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs co-organized a series of three webinars on UAS. This summary highlights the key points made by the speakers on issues pertaining to terms and classifications of UAS, benefits and risks of (mis)use, and possible actions to address the identified threats.

Citation: Sarah Grand-Clément, “Armed and dangerous? A brief overview of uncrewed aerial systems: risks, impacts, and avenues for action”, UNIDIR, Geneva, 2024. https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/24/ERC/11.

The post Armed and dangerous? A brief overview of uncrewed aerial systems – risks, impacts and avenues for action first appeared on UNIDIR.

Based on research conducted in Nigeria between July 2023 and March 2024, the report provides an overview of four VSOs in Borno: the Borno State Hunters Association, the CJTF, the Kesh Kesh vigilante group and the Vigilante Group of Nigeria. It  investigates the firearms these groups possess and how they acquire them, while offering insights into the emerging good practice for the oversight and management of VSOs’ conventional arms and ammunition.

The report aims to shed light on state approaches to arming community security entities, offering key questions for policymakers and program developers on how these efforts impact community protection and safety as well as broader state security.

Citation: Eric G. Berman, “Exploring the Acquisition and Management of Arms among Volunteer Security Outfits in Nigeria’s Borno State”. Geneva: UNIDIR, 2024.

The post Exploring the Acquisition and Management of Arms among Volunteer Security Outfits in Nigeria’s Borno State first appeared on UNIDIR.

The workshop brought together policymakers and practitioners from across the peace and security, humanitarian and development fields to explore how to enhance data collection efforts on the indirect or reverberating effects of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA). It promoted discussions on how the collection and sharing of data on these effects can contribute to the implementation of the EWIPA Political Declaration, as well as on how the Declaration can be leveraged to strengthen efforts to document and address emerging patterns of civilian harm.

This report summarizes the key findings from the workshop’s discussions. It identifies opportunities for improved collaboration among relevant stakeholders and provides recommendations for advancing the implementation of the Declaration’s commitments on data collection on indirect or reverberating effects.

Citation: Bárbara Morais Figueiredo and Katherine Young, “Understanding Civilian Harm from the Indirect or Reverberating Effects of the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: Strengthening Data Collection to Implement the Political Declaration”, UNIDIR and the Explosive Weapons Monitor, Geneva, 2024.

The post Understanding Civilian Harm from the Indirect or Reverberating Effects of the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: Strengthening Data Collection to Implement the Political Declaration first appeared on UNIDIR.

Project D-TECT consists of two consecutive phases. The first phase was to identify existing technologies that could be suited to countering the diversion of conventional weapon systems and develop a framework that makes it possible to identify and assess technologies used to counter diversion. The second phase is to assess, refine and validate the list of identified technologies in relation to specific types of conventional weapon systems.

This current paper is a product of the second phase of the research. It focuses on examining the extent to which different technologies could help counter the diversion of small arms and light weapons and the barriers to their implementation. Based on a series of stakeholder engagements, this paper examines the relevance and applicability of 14 technologies to support or strengthen efforts to counter the diversion of small arms and light weapons (SALW). 

All 14 technologies were assessed by the stakeholders who took part in the research to have potential relevance in helping to counter SALW diversion. However, the relevance of the technologies did differ depending on the life cycle stage (i.e., pre-export, transfer or post-delivery) and whether they were most suitable to helping with prevention, detection or identification. The findings also show that the adoption of technology will also necessitate overcoming a number of systemic barriers. As a result, the paper provides a non-exhaustive overview of possible options which could be undertaken to overcome or mitigate these barriers.

The output from the first phase of the project is available here.

Citation: Sarah Grand-Clément, “Assessing technologies to counter the diversion of small arms and light weapons”, UNIDIR and the Flemish Peace Institute, Geneva, 2024. https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/24/ERC/09

The post Assessing Technologies to Counter the Diversion of Small Arms and Light Weapons first appeared on UNIDIR.

In June 2023, UNIDIR initiated research examining craft production of small arms and light weapons (SALW). The objective of this research is to increase knowledge and understanding of craft-produced SALW and raise awareness of the challenges for preventing and addressing their illicit proliferation, trafficking and misuse. This report aspires to be a first step towards a global and more comprehensive dialogue on the issue of craft-produced SALW. The findings presented in it draw primarily on UNIDIR’s “Global survey on addressing the global craft production of SALW”, which was distributed to all United Nations Member States throughout 2023 and in early 2024. A total of 80 countries from all regions of the world contributed to this study by completing the survey.

This report explores key types of craft-produced weapon and manufacturing techniques, and profiles the main actors involved in the production and use of these weapons. It also delves into the existing international, regional, and national frameworks that regulate illicit manufacturing and address, most often implicitly, the issue of craft production. Finally, it considers key challenges to efforts to address this global challenge and avenues to improve these efforts. This report intends to provide international and regional organizations and states, in particular their law enforcement agencies, with a representative, yet non-exhaustive, benchmark on the issue of craft production of SALW. The report encourages a new, global dialogue on this critical issue.

Citation (EN): Matilde Vecchioni, “Unregulated Production: Examining Craft-Produced Weapons from a Global Perspective”, UNIDIR, Geneva, 2024. https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/24/PACAV/08

Référence(FR): Matilde Veccioni ” Production non-réglementée : Examens des armes artisanales à l’échelle mondiale”, UNIDIR, Genève2024, https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/24/PACAV/10

The post Unregulated Production: Examining Craft-Produced Weapons from a Global Perspective first appeared on UNIDIR.

By early 2024, 15 states – including 12 African states – have assessed and made efforts to strengthen their national frameworks governing the management of conventional weapons and ammunition throughout their life cycle using UNIDIR’s Reference Methodology for National WAM Baseline Assessments. UNIDIR has identified 10 key functional areas for WAM, including a national coordination mechanism and a legal and regulatory framework, as well as measures to be taken to control transfers, manage stockpiles, ensure accountability through marking and record-keeping, dealing with illicit arms and ammunition, and final disposal. 

This is the third annual update by UNIDIR to recognize the progress made to strengthen WAM policies and practices by those 12 African states. This update provides an initial comparative analysis of progress made across the regional baseline of WAM policy and practice. It sheds light on persistent as well as context-specific challenges encountered by States in strengthening their national WAM frameworks. The update presents national examples of activities and progress made in oftentimes challenging environments from 2023 to early 2024 in the 10 key WAM functional areas.

The exchange of good practices and lessons learned in strengthening WAM policy and practice in Africa seeks to enhance the knowledge of States, regional organisations and international partners on ways to establish and implement comprehensive national and regional frameworks governing the full lifecycle of arms and ammunition.

UNIDIR encourages the Community of States, regional organisations and relevant international partners to consult its WAM Country Insight and Annual Update series as a useful reference to support the planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation for future WAM projects.

Citation: Theò Bajon, “Weapons and Ammunition Management in Africa Insight: 2024 Update”, UNIDIR, Geneva, 2024. https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/24/WAM/07

The post Weapons and Ammunition Management in Africa Insight: 2024 Update first appeared on UNIDIR.

Cet Aperçu de Pays présente les principales conclusions de l’évaluation nationale de base en matière d’armes et de munitions, réalisée en avril 2022 par le gouvernement de la République du Bénin, par l’intermédiaire de l’entité nationale désignée comme chef de file, la Commission Nationale de Lutte contre la Prolifération des Armes Légères (CNLCPAL), en coopération avec la Communauté Économique des États de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (CEDEAO) et l’Institut des Nations Unies pour la Recherche sur le Désarmement (UNIDIR). La publication s’appuie sur le rapport complet d’évaluation de suivi de base transmis par l’UNIDIR, en coopération avec la CEDEAO, au gouvernement de la République du Bénin et apporte un éclairage sur les capacités institutionnelles et opérationnelles existantes en matière de GAM, les défis rencontrés par les autorités béninoises aux niveaux stratégique et opérationnel ainsi que les options pour renforcer davantage le cadre national régissant la gestion du cycle de vie des armes et des munitions au Bénin.

L’Aperçu de Pays couvre la période allant jusqu’à avril 2022 et ne reflète pas ou ne prend pas en compte les changements et les développements plus récents, y compris en ce qui concerne la GAM au Bénin depuis avril 2022. Néanmoins, la plupart des principales conclusions ainsi que les options identifiées pour renforcer davantage la GAM au Bénin restent pertinentes et valables.

 L’UNIDIR encourage la communauté des Etats, les organisations régionales et sous-régionales et les partenaires internationaux concernés à consulter cet Aperçu de Pays sur la GAM au Bénin, ainsi que ses séries d’Aperçu de Pays sur la GAM ainsi que les mises à jour annuelles, comme base afin de renforcer les politiques et les pratiques de la GAM à différents niveaux, ainsi que pour planifier, mettre en œuvre et évaluer les futurs programmes et projets liés à la GAM, et aux domaines connexes, au Bénin et dans d’autres États africains respectivement.

Citation: Theò Bajon and Mohamed Coulibaly (2024) “Gestion des armes et des munitions – Aperçu de pays : République du Bénin”, UNIDIR, Genève. https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/24/WAM/06

The post Gestion des armes et des munitions – Aperçu de pays : République du Bénin first appeared on UNIDIR.

Les réponses à cette montée de la violence armée et de l’extrémisme violent en Afrique de l’Ouest sont restées avant tout d’ordre militaire et sécuritaire. Elles sont ainsi devenues acceptées comme principal mode de gestion (non pacifique) des conflits, au détriment d’autres voies. Dans ce contexte, la question de la place des armes conventionnelles et de leurs munitions semble ne pas avoir été suffisamment considérée jusqu’à présent. Le lien entre la disponibilité et la prolifération des armes et de leurs munitions d’une part et la violence des groupes extrémistes violents d’autre part est aisément démontré. Ce lien est-il alors effectivement pris en compte dans les efforts pour prévenir durablement la prolifération de ces armes et l’extrémisme violent ?

La Division Paix et droits de l’homme du Département fédéral des affaires étrangères (DFAE) de la Suisse, l’Institut des Nations Unies pour la recherche sur le désarmement (UNIDIR) et le Centre régional des Nations Unies pour la paix et le désarmement en Afrique (UNREC) ont organisé le « Séminaire régional sur la prévention de l’extrémisme violent et la gestion des armes conventionnelles en Afrique de l’Ouest », qui a eu lieu du 5 au7 décembre 2023 à Lomé, au Togo. Son objectif principal était de renforcer la contribution de la gestion des armes et munitions conventionnelles (GAM) aux efforts de prévention de l’extrémisme violent (PEV) et – réciproquement – en Afrique de l’Ouest et, ainsi, de stimuler une approche conjointe et durable entre ces domaines. Le présent rapport synthétise les points clés des discussions tenues pendant le séminaire.

Citation: Institut des Nations Unies pour la recherche sur le désarmement, Centre régional des Nations Unies pour la paix et le désarmement en Afrique et Division Paix et droits de l’homme du Département fédéral des affaires étrangères de la Suisse (2024) « Séminaire régional sur la prévention de l’extrémisme violent et la gestion des armes conventionnelles en Afrique de l’Ouest : rapport de synthèse », UNIDIR, Geneva. https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/24/PACAV/05

The post Séminaire régional sur la prévention de l’extrémisme violent et la gestion des armes conventionnelles en Afrique de l’Ouest: rapport de synthèse first appeared on UNIDIR.