West Africa has a small weapons crisis – why some countries are better at dealing with it than others

Small arms and light weapons recovered from bandits in Jos, north central Nigeria. Pius Utomi Ekpei/AFP via Getty Images

Research has found that globally, small arms and light weapons increase the likelihood, intensity and longevity of conflict.

Small arms and light weapons account for most of the African continent’s conflict-related deaths. An estimated 100 million light weapons circulate in Africa. About 8 million are in the hands of non-state actors in west Africa.