Effective weapons and ammunition management
(WAM) can reduce the number of illicit conventional
arms, including small arms and light weapons, and
ammunition in circulation, prevent their diversion to
unauthorized users, and mitigate the risk of unplanned
explosions of munitions. WAM can thereby contribute
to preventing armed conflicts and violence, including
gender-based violence, as well as the maintenance of
peace and the achievement of socioeconomic and
development goals. 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 environ-
ments from 2023 to early 2024 in the 10 key WAM
functional areas.
Examples of national progress include strengthened
legal and regulatory frameworks at the national level,
leveraged national lead entities, expanded coordina-
tion mechanisms, operational solutions and innovative
community-based approaches adopted. Managing
stockpiles and ensuring accountability, dealing with
illicit materiel, and ammunition disposal present
persistent challenges. Craft production, border
controls, and criminal justice approaches merit further
attention.
Several stakeholders participating in this research
emphasized current or emerging risks posed by illicit
arms and ammunition, including instability and the
spread of violent extremism, non-state armed groups,
porous borders, as well as dynamic and changing
security environments.
Enhancing national ownership through the sensitiza-
tion of high-level political actors on the importance of
WAM are essential to making further progress and
strengthen WAM in Africa. This is a long-term
endeavour – with continued efforts, national
authorities can work to address current and
anticipated future risks through holistic, integrated,
and comprehensive approaches to WAM.
WAM Insight Series
WEAPONS AND
AMMUNITION MANAGEMENT
IN AFRICA INSIGHT:
2024 UPDATE
THEÒ BAJON
SUMMARY
