Analysis of the responses and challenges against regional multilateral mechanisms in combating the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in West Africa

Abstract

West African region has been bedeviled by incessant and persistent armed violence, which perpetrated mainly by small arms and light weapons as instruments of choice. This resulted in human security crisis, which necessitates multilateral efforts towards containing the crisis, however, the problem persists. This paper examines the trend and nature of small arms and light weapons proliferation in West African, and explores the regional mechanisms adopted in controlling the menace and the challenges been encountered in their implementation. The paper utilizes documentary research as its methodology, and adopts the complex
interdependence theory as its theoretical framework. The paper discovers that SALW proliferation in the West African region has assumed worrisome dimension, and given the enormity of their indiscriminate spread and misuse by the various armed groups, have resulted in perpetrating heinous crimes and unleashing violence in the region, the magnitude of which creates serious humanitarian and economic challenges more than what one nation in the region can contain. The paper also discovers that West African region adopts two strategic multilateral mechanisms namely: The ECOWAS Moratorium and the ECOWAS Convention in
addressing the challenges of SALW proliferation, however, after two decades the problem escalates and persists. Thus, the paper concludes that the failure of the multilateral efforts to control the proliferation and misuse of SALW is the reason behind the escalation and persistence of the crises as evidenced in the rise of terrorism and Insurgency, transnational crimes, armed banditry, particularly in the half a decade. Hence, the paper recommends the effective review of the multilateral mechanisms to accommodate the current challenges, also member states in ECOWAS region should renew its political commitments to ensure the effective control of the SALW proliferation. There should also be wider public enlightenment campaigns to educate the citizens of ECOWAS region about these multilateral instruments and mechanisms, so as to enable them make their positive contributions toward achieving the desired goals.