The United Nations has warned that weapons looted during the 2011 conflict in Libya have found their way into the hands of extremist groups operating in Nigeria and other parts of the Sahel region.
This was disclosed on Tuesday by Izumi Nakamitsu, the UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, during a meeting at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, where global stakeholders discussed the rising threat of illicit firearms proliferation.
Nakamitsu expressed concern that weapons from past conflicts continue to fuel violence long after wars have ended, undermining peace and stability in communities that were previously secure.
She noted that arms looted or diverted during and after the 2011 Libyan crisis—which followed the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi—have spread across the Sahel, including Niger, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria. According to her, some of these weapons were later discovered in the possession of extremist groups, showing how conflict weapons can destabilize entire regions years later.
“The end of the conflict does not mean the end of the circulation of those weapons,” she said, warning that illicit arms continue to move across borders and remain active in fueling insecurity.
The UN disarmament chief also stressed that the widespread availability of small arms in sub-Saharan Africa continues to hinder peacebuilding efforts, even years after conflicts subside. She explained that weapons kept by armed groups, militias, or civilians for protection can unintentionally contribute to renewed violence.
Nakamitsu further highlighted the broader consequences of illicit weapons, linking them not only to insecurity but also to terrorism, human rights violations, 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,” she said.
She added that even after wars fade from global attention, weapons used in those conflicts often remain in circulation, crossing borders and sustaining criminal activity while weakening fragile peace.
Nakamitsu also raised concerns over emerging threats such as ghost guns, 3D-printed firearms, and increasingly complex trafficking networks, noting that these developments make it harder for authorities to trace and control illicit weapons.
According to her, UN member states have taken steps to address the issue, including the 2001 Programme of Action on Small Arms and the 2005 International Tracing Instrument, which established global standards for marking and tracking illegal weapons.
The United Nations continues to support countries through technical assistance, policy guidance, and capacity-building programmes aimed at strengthening border controls, improving weapons tracking systems, and securing national stockpiles.
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