Weaknesses in International and Regional legal Mechanisms for Controlling Small Arms and Light Weapons:- Implications for Conflict in East Africa
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Date
2025-05-01
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This thesis critically examines the weaknesses of the international and regional legal
instruments in controlling SALWs, with a specific focus on their implications in East Africa
conflicts. SALWs are not only widely available and easily accessible, but their circulation
perpetuates a culture of violence, contributes to both intra-state and inter-state conflicts, and
poses a threat to regional security and development. Despite international efforts, a
combination of normative gaps, institutional weaknesses, and a lack of binding obligations
continues to undermine the effectiveness of existing control measures of SALWs in East
Africa. This thesis utilizes a doctrinal research methodology where this study analyzes
primary and secondary legal sources to assess the inadequacies in existing legal framework
and institutional practices. The key findings of this thesis reveal that issues such as
insufficient national oversight, weak enforcement of international treaties and protocols,
poor cooperation among states, and the absence of effective monitoring mechanisms in the
porous borders result in the proliferation of SALWs in the conflict prone areas. The SALWs
proliferation brings about devastating economic implications that become consequences for
mass evictions and displacements for fear of being a battle field are among the major
implications and roles of SALWs in the conflicts of East Africa. These legal and institutional
loopholes enable the continued flow of SALWs, resulting in severe human rights violationsand persistent insecurity in the region. The study underscores the urgent need for stronger,
binding international instruments and more robust national and regional cooperation to curb
the spread and impact of SALWs in East Africa. Therefore, East African countries should
take a more proactive stance in showing their commitment and support towards international
and regional mechanisms to control SALWs including enactment new regional legal
frameworks and reinforce existing laws, giving attentions to DDR as conflicts come to an end
and empower institutions like AU and IGAD on SALWs issues that should coordinate and
develop policy and law for member states that enable them to control SALWs
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Keywords
Small arms and Light weapons, UN Group of Governmental Experts, Resolutions, conflicts, Weaknesses