Global Facilitation Network for Security Sector Reform (GFN-SSR)

Africa and an arms trade treaty

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How have African states responded to proposals to establish common international standards to regulate the legal arms trade? What concerns do they have about an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)? This paper from the Institute for Security Studies discusses the views of African countries on an ATT. It argues that African states have for the most part shown considerable support for an ATT. However, a number of African states have reservations about an ATT, which need to be addressed.

Many existing arms control instruments in Africa encompass elements of the proposed ATT or express the need for such an agreement. Several conferences have also been held on the continent, which have expressed strong support for an ATT and/or improved arms transfer controls. An ATT may have several benefits for African countries including reducing the dumping of excess weapons in Africa and ensuring greater respect for international law. Further benefits could include the evening out of the arms industry by standardising import and export criteria and increasing transparency and accountability in arms procurement. However, there are also concerns over the cost of implementing an ATT and the potential for the treaty to be used as a political tool.

A group of governmental experts (GGE) was tasked with compiling a report on an ATT. Five African countries participated in the GGE. Their views can be summarised as follows:

• South Africa has consistently supported the development of an ATT, but has been criticised for taking a conservative approach. South Africa is in a complex position, since it is both an arms importer and exporter.
• Kenya is an avid supporter of an ATT and was involved in authoring the draft resolution proposing a treaty. It argues that while decisions should remain under national control, standardised arms transfer criteria are needed to outline states’ responsibilities.
• Egypt has supported the development of an ATT. However, it has suggested that the ATT be a political agreement rather than a legally-binding convention. It has expressed concerns that an ATT may be politicised in a way detrimental to developing countries.
• Algeria has stated that it attaches great importance to the ATT initiative and that it is committed to concluding a legally-binding treaty. It has emphasised the need for an agreement that relates to all weapons and is not limited only to certain categories.
• Nigeria has expressed its full support for the development of an ATT. It is committed to a universal legally-binding treaty that will stop the diversion of legal small arms and light weapons to illicit markets.

Recommendations for African regional organisations, states and civil society organisations include the following:

• African countries might consider developing a more unified approach, or even a common position, to highlight their concerns on the development of an ATT.
• African countries supporting the ATT initiative should consider initiating discussion with states that have tended to be more cautious, in order to ease their concerns.
• African civil society organisations could encourage governments to engage more proactively in ATT processes.
• African states might consider including national defence forces and arms industries in discussions on an ATT at the national level.
• African countries should show their commitment to an ATT by abiding by and implementing the principles that have been put forward to guide its development.

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