The United Nations has raised serious concern that some weapons looted during the 2011 conflict in Libya have ended up in the hands of extremist groups operating in Nigeria.
Speaking at UN Headquarters in New York, Izumi Nakamitsu, the UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, expressed concern over the long-term impact of illicit arms trafficking, noting that the uncontrolled flow of weapons from Libya has created a cycle of instability in the Sahel and West Africa.
According to UN officials, arms from Libya’s vast stockpiles were smuggled across porous borders into several Sahel countries, including Niger, Chad, Mali and Nigeria, where they now fuel terrorist violence and organised crime.
Security analysts say the uncontrolled flow of these weapons has “created a cycle of instability in the region,” empowering insurgent groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP, as well as bandits and other non-state actors that attack civilians and security forces.
A South African diplomat earlier revealed that weapons looted from Libyan depots after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi were smuggled into West Africa and used by Boko Haram, warning that unless regional and continental bodies act decisively, militants will continue to wreak havoc.
Reports by security think-tanks and defence sources indicate that stockpiles gathered in south-western Libya are routinely trafficked through Niger’s Agadez and Tahoua regions, then routed towards Nigeria via Diffa, Zinder, Maradi and other corridors.
The UN estimated in 2020 that Libya had as much as 200,000 tons of weapons at the time of its collapse. The subsequent civil wars led to massive looting and dispersal of these arms across the region.
The UN and regional experts have urged West African governments to strengthen border controls, improve intelligence-sharing and intensify operations against arms trafficking networks, while also cutting demand by securing military armouries that are often looted during attacks.
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