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1 Theo Bajon, Weapons and Ammunition Management in Africa Insight: 2024 Update [i] (2024)

handle is hein.unl/wsadainm0001 and id is 1 raw text is: 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.

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