SELECTED CENTRAL AFRICAN CASE STUDIES ARMED CONFLICT AND DISARMAMENT

The report analyzes the proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) in the DRC, CAR, and Chad, linking arms availability to historical instability, ethnic conflict, and poor governance. It assesses various disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) efforts, noting that while some institutional frameworks exist, they are often undermined by a lack of resources, political mistrust, and the persistence of non-state armed groups. The author argues that sustainable peace requires integrating disarmament with socio-economic development and regional cooperation.

• The proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) in Central Africa is driven by a combination of historical conflict, porous borders, and a 'culture of weapons' where gun ownership is sometimes viewed as a symbol of bravery or a necessity for self-defense.
• In the Central African Republic (CAR), political instability characterized by frequent coups and army mutinies has led to the looting of government armouries and a widespread distribution of firearms among civilians.
• Disarmament efforts in the CAR through the National Commission on Disarmament, Demobilization and Reinsertion (NCDDR) and the PRAC project emphasize an integrated approach that provides ex-combatants with 'disarmament kits' and community infrastructure support rather than cash for weapons to avoid creating new arms markets.
• The conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is deeply linked to ethnic identity crises and regional spillover from Rwanda and Burundi, creating fertile channels for the illicit flow of weapons.
• Disarmament of foreign combatants in the DRC, particularly the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), has largely failed due to a lack of political ownership, fear of victimization upon return to Rwanda, and the absence of an inter-Rwandan dialogue.
• The DRC's national DDR process for Congolese combatants has seen a preference for demobilization over reintegration into the national army (FARDC), potentially motivated by financial incentives or a desire to remain in communities as guards.
• Chad's history of foreign interference, particularly by Libya and the United States, has contributed to massive weapons inflows and the collapse of state institutions, leaving government armouries vulnerable to looting.
• The report identifies a critical nexus between armed conflict and public health, noting that the proliferation of SALW and the resulting displacement of people exacerbate the spread of HIV/AIDS and increase food insecurity.
• Effective disarmament in the region is hindered by the use of 'predatory' international arms suppliers and the failure of states to strictly enforce UN arms embargoes.

APA

ALUSALA, N. (2007). SELECTED CENTRAL AFRICAN CASE STUDIES ARMED CONFLICT AND DISARMAMENT. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/MONO129FULL.PDF

Chicago

ALUSALA, NELSON. SELECTED CENTRAL AFRICAN CASE STUDIES ARMED CONFLICT AND DISARMAMENT. Institute for Security Studies, 2007. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/MONO129FULL.PDF.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=ALUSALA |first1=NELSON |title=SELECTED CENTRAL AFRICAN CASE STUDIES ARMED CONFLICT AND DISARMAMENT |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=March 2007 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/MONO129FULL.PDF |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{alusala2007selected, author = {ALUSALA, NELSON}, title = {{SELECTED CENTRAL AFRICAN CASE STUDIES ARMED CONFLICT AND DISARMAMENT}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2007}, month = mar, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/MONO129FULL.PDF}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }