ADDIS ABABA, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Armed groups have demonstrated their strong capacity to move weapons across borders in Africa, a joint African Union (AU) and Small Arms Survey study on illicit small arms flow in Africa revealed on Wednesday.
The first-ever continental study, which was officially launched at the AU Headquarters in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa which will be spearheaded by the AU, was published under the title "Weapons Compass: Mapping Illicit Small Arms Flows in Africa."
Noting that the pool of illicit weapons in Africa remains dominated by old that are often cold war-era models, the report stressed that "seizures of recent models of varied origins point to new and emerging sources of small arms for the armed and criminal actors who are active on the continent."
The continental study was developed within the context of the AU's flagship roadmap on Silencing the Guns, and the broader strategic framework for inclusive and sustainable development promoting peace, security, and stability as articulated by the AU's 50-year development Agenda 2063, it was noted.
According to the newly launched study, external sources of illicit small arms include embargo-breaking transfers from the Middle East and eastern Europe, the trade in readily convertible imitation firearms, and the diversion of recently authorized imports of both arms and ammunition.
"Some of this equipment is diverted quickly to armed groups after reaching African soil," the study revealed.
The study also found out that the trafficking of already illegal weapons across borders, the production of craft or artisanal firearms, as well as the diversion of national stockpiles of arms including stockpiles held by peacekeeping forces and civilian holdings through theft, loss, and corruption as the major sources of illicit weapons in Africa.
"Craft-produced firearms on the continent range from rudimentary pistols and shotguns to sophisticated assault-type rifles," the study revealed.
Noting that data on illicit weapons holdings is scarce, the study also indicated that "the current magnitude of the phenomenon can at best only be very roughly estimated."
The study also said that African countries "have shown strong political will to tackle the scourge of illicit weapons flows" as both the AU's roadmap and relevant sub-regional conventions exemplify.
It also stressed that African countries' participation in international information-sharing platforms that can help to provide critical weapons-trafficking intelligence has been "very limited to date."
Prioritizing this area has the potential to provide the continent with timely and actionable information on new and emerging trends in illicit firearms trafficking, the study argued.
According to the AU, the study mainly aimed to inform small arms-related policy development and targeted response measures by the different stakeholders, including AU policy organs and regional inter-governmental organizations.
"In light of the global nature of illicit arms flows, the study is relevant not only to Africa but to the international community as a whole as it strives to realize Agenda 2030 on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," the AU said.
The 28th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU, which was held in January 2017, had adopted the AU Master Roadmap of Practical Steps to Silence the Guns in Africa by the Year 2020.
The AU roadmap mainly encompasses various practical steps and modalities for action to address the underlying drivers of conflict, as well as the tools and enablers of violence, including preventing the illicit flows of weapons on the continent and to conflict zones.
