ARMS PROLIFERATION AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR INTERSTATE CONFLICT IN WEST AFRICA (2000–2024)

Abstract

This study assessed the impact of arms proliferation on interstate conflicts in West Africa from 2000 to 2024, with emphasis on how the spread of small arms and light weapons (SALWs) undermines regional stability and security. The study was guided by the theory of realism; the study argues that states’ pursuit of self-interest, power, and survival within an anarchic international system drives the persistence of arms proliferation and interstate tensions. Relying on secondary data from scholarly publications, internet, ECOWAS reports, and United Nations documents, the research identified weak border management, corruption, and political instability as major factors facilitating the illicit flow of arms across West African borders. Findings further revealed that the proliferation of weapons has escalated conflicts and deepened insecurity in states such as Nigeria, Mali, and Burkina Faso, while regional control mechanisms particularly those of ECOWAS remain only partially effective due to weak enforcement and limited cooperation among member states. The study concluded that arms proliferation both reflects and reinforces regional instability, necessitating stronger political will, and effective border governance, and enhanced regional collaboration. It therefore recommended improved surveillance capacity, disarmament initiatives, and the full implementation of the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons to mitigate the threat of arms proliferation and promote sustainable peace in West Africa.