The United Nations has raised concerns that weapons looted during the 2011 Libyan conflict have found their way into Nigeria and other countries in the Sahel region, where some are now being used by extremist groups.
The disclosure was made by the UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu, during a meeting at the UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday. The gathering focused on the growing global threat posed by the illegal circulation of small arms and light weapons.
Nakamitsu said weapons stolen or diverted during and after the conflict that ended the rule of former Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, have continued to spread across several African countries, including Niger, Burkina Faso and Nigeria.
According to her, some of the weapons later ended up in the possession of extremist groups, demonstrating how arms from one conflict can fuel instability and violence in neighbouring countries years after the fighting has ended.
She noted that while wars may come to an end, the weapons used during such conflicts often remain in circulation, continuing to threaten lives and undermine peace efforts.
The UN official explained that in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, the widespread availability of illegal firearms continues to weaken peacebuilding efforts and contribute to insecurity.
She added that weapons retained by armed groups, militias and local communities for protection often become tools for renewed violence and instability.
Nakamitsu also linked the proliferation of illicit weapons to terrorism, human rights violations, organised crime and cases of sexual and gender-based violence.
According to her, the challenge goes beyond security concerns, affecting development, governance and efforts to build lasting peace.
She further warned that emerging threats such as ghost guns, 3D-printed firearms and sophisticated smuggling networks are making it more difficult for authorities to track and control illegal weapons.
The UN official explained that weapon parts can be dismantled and transported across borders, making tracing and recovery more complicated for law enforcement agencies.
To address the problem, UN member states adopted a global action programme in 2001 aimed at strengthening national laws, improving stockpile management, combating illicit arms trafficking and promoting international cooperation.
She also highlighted the adoption of the International Tracing Instrument in 2005, which established global standards for marking, recording and tracing illegal weapons.
According to the UN, the framework helps investigators identify the origin of illicit firearms, trace their movement and reduce the diversion of weapons from legal stockpiles into criminal networks.
The organisation continues to support countries through technical assistance, policy guidance and capacity-building programmes designed to improve border security, strengthen tracing systems and secure weapons stockpiles.