The United Nations has warned that weapons looted during Libya’s 2011 conflict continue to circulate across Africa and have found their way into the hands of extremist groups operating in Nigeria and other countries in the Sahel region.
The warning was issued by Izumi Nakamitsu during discussions at the UN Headquarters in New York on the global spread of illicit firearms. She said the movement of weapons after conflicts end remains a major source of insecurity, fueling violence and instability long after wars have officially concluded.
Citing Libya as a notable example, Nakamitsu said weapons looted or diverted during and after the 2011 conflict that ended the rule of Muammar Gaddafi later surfaced across the wider Sahel region, including in Niger, Burkina Faso and Nigeria.
“Some were subsequently found in the hands of extremist groups, illustrating how arms from one conflict can destabilise neighbouring countries years later,” she said.
Nakamitsu stressed that the end of armed conflict does not automatically stop the circulation of weapons, warning that illicit firearms continue to fuel crime, violence and insecurity across borders.
“The end of the conflict does not mean the end of the circulation of those weapons; it stays and it continues to harm people,” she stated.
She further noted that the widespread availability of small arms in parts of sub-Saharan Africa continues to undermine peacebuilding efforts years after active conflicts have ended. According to her, weapons retained by armed groups or communities for self-defence can contribute to renewed violence, while illicit firearms are frequently linked to terrorism, human rights abuses, and sexual and gender-based violence.
“It is not just a security issue. It is also about peacebuilding. It is about human rights. It is also about development,” Nakamitsu said.
The UN official also warned that evolving trafficking methods are making it increasingly difficult for authorities to track illegal weapons. She pointed to the growing use of ghost guns, 3D-printed firearms and disassembled weapon components, which are often easier to smuggle and harder to trace.
“Those weapons or weapon parts, if they are disassembled and then trafficked, are more difficult to trace,” she explained.
The United Nations highlighted ongoing international efforts to combat illicit arms trafficking, noting that member states adopted an action programme in 2001 aimed at strengthening national legislation, improving weapons stockpile security and preventing the illegal trade in firearms.
The organisation also referenced the 2005 International Tracing Instrument, which was established to standardise the marking and tracing of weapons globally.
According to the UN, it continues to support countries through technical assistance, policy guidance and capacity-building initiatives designed to strengthen border security and reduce the diversion of weapons into illegal markets.
