Although many African countries have adopted regional and global policies on arms control, the continued illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons is an indication of wider transnational organised crime on the continent that calls for more attention. Criminal networks exploit gaps in the regulatory systems, porous borders and weak law enforcement procedures. The United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) have for years sought to address these challenges. The AU, in particular, has designed a number of measures aimed at combating illicit arms flows. If these initiatives are implemented effectively, there is a real possibility that the flow of illicit arms in Africa can be stemmed.
About the author
Nelson Alusala joined the ENACT project in 2017 as a senior research consultant, focusing on links between arms control and transnational organised crime. He has worked for the Institute for Security Studies, the government of Kenya, the UN Group of Experts on the DRC, and the UN Panel of Experts on Liberia. He is also a post-doctoral research fellow at the University of Pretoria’s Centre for the Study of Governance Innovation. He has a PhD in political science from the University of Pretoria.
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