Global Challenge of Small Arms and Light Weapons
The world is facing a cross-border “chain of violence” driven by small arms and light weapons, as highlighted by UN disarmament and law enforcement officials during a recent meeting with the Security Council. They emphasized the need for coordinated global action to address the illicit flows that are fueling conflict, organized crime, and displacement across regions such as Haiti and the Sahel.
Adedeji Ebo, the deputy disarmament chief, pointed out that despite recent efforts to strengthen arms control frameworks, more than one billion firearms are in circulation globally. These weapons sustain conflict, terrorism, and criminal networks across multiple regions. He warned that weapons diverted from national stockpiles or at any point in the supply chain could end up in the hands of non-state armed groups.
Proliferation of ‘Ghost Guns’
Ebo also addressed the growing spread of 3D-printed “ghost guns” without serial numbers, which are increasingly found in illicit markets in Western Europe and Latin America. The human toll is significant, with the UN recording at least 48,000 conflict-related civilian deaths in 2024, where small arms were responsible for up to 30% of these deaths in some contexts.
He stressed that these abuses are preventable and called for stronger stockpile controls, tracing systems, and compliance with arms embargoes. The challenge, he said, requires a collective effort to ensure that these weapons do not fall into the wrong hands.
A Borderless Threat
Roraima Ana Andriani, the UN Special Representative to INTERPOL, warned that illicit firearms trafficking is now deeply entwined with cross-border organized crime. She noted that networks use weapons to control territory, protect illicit economies, and expand influence. This is a transnational chain of violence that can only be addressed through transnational cooperation.
INTERPOL’s global iARMS database contains over two million records of lost, stolen, and trafficked weapons, supporting multinational operations that have seized thousands of firearms and dismantled networks tied to terrorism, trafficking, and illegal mining. However, she cautioned that policing alone is insufficient.
No measure taken in isolation can prevent the flow of such weapons across the globe, she said, urging the Council to explicitly incorporate INTERPOL’s role into sanctions and arms embargo mandates.
African Region Under Acute Strain
Mohamed Ibn Chambas, the African Union High Representative for Silencing the Guns, described small arms proliferation as “a cancer” driving instability across the continent, from the Sahel to the Great Lakes region. He highlighted the horrific violence and suffering in the Darfur region of Sudan, emphasizing that controlling small arms is a prerequisite for sustainable peace.
He noted AU-led efforts to harmonize stockpile management and support amnesty and disarmament initiatives. Africa Amnesty Month and related programs have led to the destruction of tens of thousands of weapons, but the scale of the problem remains vast.
Haiti: Armed Gangs Controlling Territory
Arnoux Descardes, Executive Director of the Haitian civil society organization VDH, described the acute impact of illicit firearms in Haiti, where armed groups control major urban areas and key transport routes. He stated that the trafficking of illegal firearms is a multiplier of the crisis.
Between 270,000 and 500,000 firearms are estimated to be in circulation in the country, but only about 45,000 are legally registered. The proliferation of small arms in Haiti fuels insecurity and paralyzes social and economic life, he said, calling for stronger border controls and disarmament programs.
Call for Sustained, Coordinated Action
Mr. Ebo concluded by warning that the weapons produced and transferred today risk fuelling the instability of tomorrow. He urged the Security Council to integrate small arms controls into peace operations, peacebuilding strategies, and sanctions monitoring.
Our responsibility is clear, he said. We must prevent the diversion and illicit manufacturing of small arms and light weapons or we will face the consequences of deepening insecurity.