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1 Theo Bajon, Weapons and Ammunition Management in Africa Insight: 2025 Update [i] (2025)

handle is hein.unl/wepnsadam0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Effective weapons and ammunition management (WAM) is fundamental to reducing the availability of illicit conventional arms, including small arms and light weapons (SALW), and ammunition, in circulation, to preventing their diversion to unauthorized users, and to mitigating the risk of unplanned explosions. WAM thus not only contributes to the prevention of armed conflicts and violence, including gender-based violence, but also contributes to peace, security, stability and sustainable development. By mid-2025, 18 states - including 14 in Africa - had assessed and made efforts to strengthen their national frameworks governing the management of weapons and ammunition through their life cycle using UNIDIR's Reference Methodology for National WAM Baseline Assessments. This methodology identifies key functional areas for WAM. These range from establishing national coordination mechanisms, strategies and legal frameworks to strengthening controls over transfers, manage stockpiles, improvements to accountability through marking and record-keeping systems, dealing with illicit arms and ammunition, and final disposal. This is the fourth annual update by UNIDIR to recognize the progress made to strengthen WAM policies and practices by those 14 African states. Information analysed for this update was collected primarily through meetings and interviews with national focal points and lead authorities, regional organizations, United Nations entities, and expert non-governmental organizations (NGOs) between mid-2024 and mid-2025. This annual WAM update provides an analysis of progress across the regional baseline of policy and practice, and highlights persistent, context-specific and emerging challenges. The update presents national examples of practices and activities that have helped in overcoming some of these challenges, as well as examples of progress that is being made in strengthening national WAM frameworks in often challenging environments. Among these examples are the autonomous undertaking of assessments at the subnational level for evidence- and needs-based, localized actions; the development of strategies that integrate WAM into broader peace, security and development frameworks; as well as monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. This update also highlights a multi-purpose WAM operation, and the piloting, roll out and use of certain technological solutions by several states. In addition, it reports on increased community-level engagement and transitional WAM measures. It also shows increased attention to environmentally sound disposal, including destruction practices. Despite progress being made, certain persistent challenges remain. These include, for example, the physical infrastructure for stockpile management; accountability systems and their digitalization; effective control of craft- or artisanally produced weapons, systems and components; as well as coordination across government entities. The evolving security environment, marked in parts of Africa by violent extremism, transnational organized crime, arms trafficking and activities of non-state actors, continues to present serious risks to progress on WAM, while also underscoring the need for sustained commitment and innovative policies and practices. Further progress will depend on reinforced national ownership and high-level political leadership and clear mandates and dedicated resources, which must be paired with continuous improvement of WAM technical capacities. Further policy-oriented and multi-stakeholder dialogues - including for the exchange of good and effective measures and practices - are critical in this regard, supported by targeted regional and international cooperation and technical assistance. With a combination of efforts, African states can continue to advance towards safer, more secure and more peaceful communities.