Armed Conflicts, SALWs Proliferation, and Underdevelopment in Africa

A number of unresolved issues and challenges followed Africa into the twenty-first century. Some of these issues and challenges have continued to exercise great influence on security, social and political stability, and general progress of Africa and its people in many ways. Proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALWs) is one of these unresolved challenges with devastating impact on security, stability, and economic development of Africa in the twenty-first century. Although there may be several triggers for low-intensity conflicts and other emerging forms of security threats such as insurgency, terrorism, and banditry in many parts of the continent, it is evident that proliferation of SALWs has not only greatly nurtured and sustained these issues but also extended their lifespan. Cheap and easy to handle, these weapons have exacerbated conflicts and increased rates of violence, and the destruction of lives and property in conflict zones. They have aided the outbreak of vicious civil wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone, led to the dreadful Janjaweed raiders in Sudan, and the pitiable child-soldier phenomenon in West and Central Africa. These are not the only consequences of proliferation on Africa. Proliferation has facilitated the emergence of several armed groups that operate as militants, bandits, and herdsmen in Nigeria, as pirates in the Horn of Africa notably in Somalia, as rebels and freedom fighters in Mali and Niger Republic and in many other places. Activities such as these by these types of groups and many others, ensured and made ubiquitous through availability and affordability of SALWs, have disrupted economic infrastructure and created an atmosphere of insecurity in different parts of Africa. Naturally, this affects African economy. Against this background, this chapter argues that proliferation of SALWS has significantly affected the African economy in the twenty-first century. This impact, as we demonstrate, is not positive. We trace the contours of the linkage existing between proliferation on one-hand and security challenges such as insurgency, militancy, and banditry to support our contention that positive economic performance in Africa is contingent upon an improved atmosphere of security and stability. We conclude the chapter with some suggestions on how to address the challenge of arms proliferation in Africa.