Current Research

Weapons and Ammunition Management in Somalia (Phase II)

Weapons and Ammunition Management in Somalia (Phase II)

03/01/2014

Somalia is one of several countries in Africa emerging from conflict that continues to struggle with the negative consequences of uncontrolled proliferation and misuse of arms. Fragile States are often heavily burdened by the illicit flow and availability of arms and ammunition, impeding their effort to provide sustainable security and development to their populations. In 2012, the UN System Task Team on the Post-2015 UN Development Agenda recognized that "violence and fragility have become the largest obstacle to the MDGs".

The objective of the second phase of this project is to enhance the capacity of national lawmakers and relevant security authorities in Somalia who are tasked with supporting or leading the review of national frameworks related to weapons and ammunition control. This project will include a series of capacity building activities intended to provide technical guidance on the process to develop and review national framework to control weapons and ammunition—including through stakeholder analysis, needs assessment, options and models for national action plans, as well as monitoring and evaluation—with the view to support the establishment of a regulatory system.

Phase II of this project will in turn help establish capacity among Somali national authorities, to design, review and assess the development of appropriate national frameworks, policies and procedures dealing with the full management cycle of weapons and ammunition.

Researchers: Himayu Shiotani, Hardy Giezendanner, Daniel Golston.

Partners: UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS), UN Development Programme (UNDP), and Conflict Armament Research (CAR).

Donors: Support from UNIDIR's core funders provides the foundation for all of the Institute's activities.
In addition, dedicated project funding was received from the Government of Finland.

Phase I: Weapons and Ammunition Management in Somalia

The first phase of this project started in January 2014, following Security Council decisions (resolution 2093 and 2142) to partially lift the 20-year old arms embargo in Somalia, which enabled the Government to build capacity to provide security for its population and territory, while at the same time brought new challenges in their efforts to rapidly and effectively manage the licit and illicit flows of arms and ammunition and their safe and secure management. The purpose of the first phase of this project has been to assist in the capacity building of the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) to effectively identify and respond to existing challenges and opportunities related to arms and ammunition management.

Researchers: Himayu Shiotani, Hardy Giezendanner

Partners: UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS), UN Development Programme (UNDP), and Conflict Armament Research (CAR).

Donors: Support from UNIDIR's core funders provides the foundation for all of the Institute's activities.
In addition, dedicated project funding was received from the Government of Finland.