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The UN says a number of weapons looted during the Libyan conflict in 2011 have ended up in the hands of extremist groups in Nigeria.
UN Deputy Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu, stated this at UN Headquarters in New York, United States, on Tuesday as delegates gathered to address the global spread of illegal firearms.
The top UN disarmament official expressed regret that weapons continue to fuel violence in societies long after wars have ended, causing devastation in once peaceful societies.
He cited “Libya, where weapons were looted or diverted during and after the 2011 conflict that ended Muammar Gaddafi’s rule, later emerged in the wider Sahel region, including in Niger, Burkina Faso and Nigeria.
“Some of these were later found in the hands of extremist groups, illustrating how weapons from one conflict can destabilize neighboring countries years later.
“The end of the conflict does not mean the end of the circulation of these weapons; the conflict still exists and continues to harm society.”
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In parts of sub-Saharan Africa, the UN says the proliferation of small arms could undermine peace-building efforts long after fighting subsides.
Weapons kept by armed groups, militias or communities for self-protection could contribute to new violence and instability, he stressed.
According to him, prohibited weapons are also linked to human rights violations, terrorism, and sexual and gender-based violence.
“This is not just a security issue. This is also a peace-building issue. This is a human rights issue. This is also a development issue,” said Nakamitsu.
He said years after conflict fades from the headlines, weapons used to fight conflict often continue to circulate, crossing borders, fueling crime and undermining often fragile peace.
“The war has ended, but unfortunately, the weapons used in the conflict cannot be fully controlled.
“They continue to circulate. Sometimes they are hidden. They are taken across borders,” Nakamitsu said.
He expressed concern that the emergence of ghost guns, 3D printed firearms and increasingly sophisticated human trafficking networks is creating new challenges for governments around the world.
“Weapons or weapon parts, if they are dismantled and then traded, will be more difficult to trace,” said Nakamitsu.
