October 2, 2019.
This paper examines how arms control and disarmament efforts can contribute to solving the multifaceted challenges of the African Union (AU) project called “Silencing the Guns”. This project was initiated in 2013 on the 50th anniversary of the AU with the aim of ending all wars in Africa by 2020. The project forms a part of the AU’s broader development plan envisaged to positively transform the lives of Africans by the time of the organization’s hundredth anniversary.
It is argued that coordinated measures to stop the proliferation and misuse of arms must not just aim at removing guns from the streets of Africa and from criminal gangs and traffickers, but must also involve the effective implementation of internationally agreed best practices by State authorities, agencies and security forces, as well as involve the strengthening of national laws in line with relevant treaty obligations of African States relating to the transfer of weapons, munitions and related equipment. It is hoped this paper will assist African governments to identify critical measures, including ones that will result in quick wins, and other measures that will form a solid framework to bring arms under better control, such as ratifying and implementing existing international and regional instruments.