O tráfico de armas ligeiras no Sahel: o papel das cidades de tríplice fronteira

This report examines the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons (SALW) in the Sahel, focusing on Burkina Faso, Niger, and Nigeria. It identifies six critical 'nodes' in tri-border areas that facilitate the flow of weapons. Key drivers of demand include security crises, personal safety, and climate-induced resource conflicts. The report highlights that a significant portion of illicit arms are produced locally or leak from state arsenals, and that profits from this trade are often laundered through real estate. Despite existing regional frameworks like the ECOWAS Convention, the report concludes that national implementation remains the primary obstacle to controlling proliferation.

• The report identifies six specific 'nodes' or tri-border cities that serve as critical conduits for the illicit trafficking of arms and ammunition: Mallam Fatori (Niger-Nigeria-Chad), Tinzaoutine (Algeria-Niger-Mali), Tera (Mali-Niger-Burkina Faso), Murzuq (Libya-Chad-Niger), Porga (Benin-Burkina Faso-Niger), and Gaya (Niger-Benin-Nigeria).
• The demand for illicit arms is driven by a combination of security crises, personal safety concerns, and historical conflicts between farmers and pastoralists. In Burkina Faso, communities like the Mossi arm themselves due to perceived state abandonment, while in Nigeria, insecurity and poor management of armed banditry lead individuals to seek self-defense.
• Climate volatility, including droughts, desertification, and floods, exacerbates conflicts over resources, particularly between farmers and pastoralists, thereby increasing the demand for firearms in rural communities.
• Local artisanal production is a primary source of illicit weapons in the region. Armories in Ghana and Nigeria are key sources, and these weapons are often cheaper than imports. In Burkina Faso, 60% of weapons seized in 2016/17 were artisanal, and in southern Nigeria, 73% of weapons seized between 2014 and 2017 were locally made.
• State security apparatuses contribute to proliferation through the leakage of national arsenals, caused by theft, loss, or capture during conflict. In Burkina Faso, it is estimated that 80% of weapons held by armed groups originate from state arsenals.
• The fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 acted as a regional catalyst, significantly increasing the flow and availability of weapons from Libyan national arsenals into the Sahel.
• Youth and women are actively involved as 'passers' or couriers in the illicit arms trade. Youth are often driven by poverty, lack of education, and the lure of easy profits, while some women participate for reasons of revenge or financial gain, often hiding weapons in merchandise or cereals.
• Illicit arms trafficking distorts local economies, with profits frequently laundered through the real estate sector, land purchases, and livestock in countries like Burkina Faso. This creates a 'myth of easy profits' that discourages youth from pursuing legal employment.
• The proliferation of arms has led to a severe security and humanitarian crisis. In 2022, the Sahel was responsible for 43% of global terrorism-related deaths. In Nigeria, conflicts between farmers and pastoralists result in an annual loss of US$ 14 billion in potential income.

APA

Alusala, N. (2023). O tráfico de armas ligeiras no Sahel: o papel das cidades de tríplice fronteira. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/OCWAR-T-paper-6-por.pdf

Chicago

Alusala, Nelson. O tráfico de armas ligeiras no Sahel: o papel das cidades de tríplice fronteira. Institute for Security Studies, 2023. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/OCWAR-T-paper-6-por.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Alusala |first1=Nelson |title=O tráfico de armas ligeiras no Sahel: o papel das cidades de tríplice fronteira |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=October 2023 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/OCWAR-T-paper-6-por.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{alusala2023trfico, author = {Alusala, Nelson}, title = {{O tráfico de armas ligeiras no Sahel: o papel das cidades de tríplice fronteira}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2023}, month = oct, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/OCWAR-T-paper-6-por.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }