By Kelsey Hera
The unprecedented proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) is posing an immediate security challenge to communities in Africa.
It has been a global concern, not only for security and political stability but also for the environment and sustainable development.
Small arms are often used in inter-state or intra-state conflicts and directly impact sustainable development in affected regions.
In regions like the Great Lakes and the Horn of Africa, the proliferation of small arms has perpetuated conflict and hindered efforts towards sustainable development.
Armed groups engage in illicit mining and poaching, using smuggled arms are a threat to human lives and the environment. These activities contribute to the degradation of the environment, including deforestation and the destruction of wildlife, which undermines sustainable livelihoods.
Moreover, the widespread use of these weapons in states in conflict, like the Democratic Republic of Congo and other conflict zones, has led to deforestation as armed groups clear vast lands to exploit natural resources.
In some cases, the use of cluster munitions in conflict zone areas poses a threat to biodiversity destruction and restricts access to land for agriculture and other sustainable development activities.
This, in turn, exacerbates poverty and food insecurity, making it difficult for communities to adapt to environmental challenges such as climate change. Under the Paris Agreement and other global legal instruments, adapting to climate emergencies’ effects is critical to human survival.
Furthermore, the proliferation of small arms can hinder efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Goal 16, which aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, is directly impacted by the presence of small arms and light weapons.
Without effective disarmament initiatives and arms control measures, achieving this goal becomes more challenging. For example, in countries like Sudan and Somalia, ongoing conflicts and small arms proliferation have hampered progress toward achieving peace and the SDGs, particularly in areas like education, health, and poverty reduction. Besides, implementing Nationally Determined Contributions mandated by Article 4 paragraph 12 of the Paris Agreement to reduce climate change is impossible in a conflict environment.
Therefore, diplomatic efforts such as arms control agreements, peace negotiations, and conflict resolution mechanisms should be enhanced to help reduce the availability and use of small arms and weapons in conflict zones by addressing their impact in an environmentally sustainable way.
Initiatives like the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms have sought to strengthen global efforts to combat the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. Diplomatic efforts and other measures should be redoubled, including sanctions against arms traders and belligerents.
In addition, conflict hotspots regional blocs like West Africa, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the East African Economic Community should devise and or implement regional strategies to address the proliferation of small arms, contributing to improved security and stability in the region.
In conclusion, diplomacy plays a crucial role in addressing these challenges by promoting disarmament, conflict resolution, and cooperation among nations, which help mitigate the impact of small arms proliferation on both human security and the environment.
The Writer is a graduate of International Relations and Diplomacy.
