Illicit Small Arms Proliferation and Internal Conflicts in Sub-Saharan Africa: Rethinking Arms Governance

This study examines the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons (SALW), which constitutes one of the most persistent threats to peace and stability in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Despite the existence of comprehensive legal and institutional frameworks at global, regional, and national levels, the circulation of illicit arms continues to fuel internal conflicts, weaken state authority, and undermine human security. This study examines the structural enablers, operational mechanisms, and governance deficiencies that sustain the SALW phenomenon, while assessing the effectiveness and adaptability of existing arms control regimes. Drawing on qualitative research conducted in Cameroon, Mali, Kenya, and the Central African Republic, the analysis integrates field interviews, policy documents, and secondary literature, applying François Thual’s geopolitical method to explore the strategic interests and interactions of state and non-state actors. The findings reveal that the persistence of illicit arms flows is driven by both external and internal factors, including porous borders, post-Cold War arms surpluses, fragile institutions, unregulated local arms production, and socio-economic grievances. These dynamics collectively deepen fragility, prolong conflicts, and entrench cultures of violence. This article submits that current SALW governance frameworks remain overly state-centric and prohibition-oriented, focusing mainly on supply-side control while neglecting the demand-side motivations linked to insecurity, inequality, and livelihood vulnerability. To address these limitations, the paper advocates for a paradigm shift toward a hybrid, multi-level governance model that combines state regulation with community engagement, regional cooperation, and human security-based approaches. As such, “silencing the guns” in Africa requires moving beyond coercive disarmament toward inclusive, context-sensitive arms governance that reinforces institutional legitimacy, addresses local security needs, and promotes citizen-centered peacebuilding. By rethinking arms governance as part of broader state-building and development processes, this paper contributes to advancing both the theory and practice of conflict transformation in fragile African contexts.