Weaknesses in International and Regional legal Mechanisms for Controlling Small Arms and Light Weapons:- Implications for Conflict in East Africa
| dc.contributor.advisor | Wondemagegn Tadesse | |
| dc.contributor.author | Misganaw Alemayehu | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-03-10T08:44:39Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-03-10T08:44:39Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025-05-01 | |
| dc.description.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 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/7942 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Addis Ababa University | |
| dc.subject | Small arms and Light weapons | |
| dc.subject | UN Group of Governmental Experts | |
| dc.subject | Resolutions | |
| dc.subject | conflicts | |
| dc.subject | Weaknesses | |
| dc.title | Weaknesses in International and Regional legal Mechanisms for Controlling Small Arms and Light Weapons:- Implications for Conflict in East Africa | |
| dc.type | Thesis |