Addressing the Challenges of Illicit Arms Smuggling and Terrorism within the context of ECOWAS Free Movement and Trade

Abstract

This paper explores how uncontrolled arms smuggling has adversely affected the security of Ghana, Nigeria, Mali, and Burkina Faso, against the backdrop of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). While ECOWAS was created with an aim to ensure free movement and integration of its member states, the same border openness associated with such policies has led to serious security threats through the increase in the circulation of illegal small arms and light weapons (SALW). Relying on policy documents and security reports, and employing a qualitative approach, the paper analyses trends in the distribution of weapons and terrorist activity, as well as the economic problems caused by insecurity. Results show that the lack of coordinated arms control regulations, ineffective implementation of arms regulations and border security are the key causes of weapon proliferation that is being exploited by terrorists via trade and migration routes.