The United Nations has revealed that weapons looted during the 2011 Libyan conflict have made their way into the possession of extremist groups operating in Nigeria and other parts of the Sahel region.
The disclosure was made on Tuesday by Izumi Nakamitsu, the UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, during a session at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, where global delegates gathered to address the growing threat of illicit small arms and light weapons.
Nakamitsu expressed concern that the end of armed conflicts does not necessarily stop the spread of weapons, warning that arms often continue to circulate long after wars have ended, fuelling instability in previously peaceful communities.
She specifically referenced Libya, noting that weapons looted or diverted during and after the 2011 uprising that led to the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi later resurfaced across the wider Sahel region, including Niger, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria. According to her, some of these weapons eventually ended up in the hands of extremist groups, worsening insecurity across borders.
“The end of the conflict does not mean the end of the circulation of those weapons,” she said, stressing that illicit arms continue to move across regions, often hidden or trafficked illegally.
The UN disarmament chief warned that the proliferation of small arms in sub-Saharan Africa continues to undermine peacebuilding efforts, even years after active fighting has stopped. She noted that weapons kept by armed groups, militias, or communities for self-defence can also contribute to renewed cycles of violence.
She further linked illicit weapons to broader global challenges, including terrorism, human rights violations, and sexual and gender-based violence, describing the issue as not only a security concern but also one tied to development and human welfare.
“It is not just a security issue. It is also about peacebuilding. It is about human rights. It is also about development,” she said.
Nakamitsu also raised alarm over emerging threats such as ghost guns, 3D-printed firearms, and increasingly sophisticated transnational trafficking networks, warning that these developments make it harder for authorities to trace and control illegal weapons.
According to her, international efforts have included the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms adopted in 2001 and the 2005 International Tracing Instrument, which established global standards for marking and tracking illicit weapons.
The United Nations continues to support member states through technical assistance, policy guidance, and capacity-building initiatives aimed at strengthening border security, improving stockpile management, and enhancing weapons tracing systems worldwide.
