Developing indicators for evaluating the national implementation of regional law on arms in Africa

Abstract

The spread of arms and the resulting armed violence undermine good governance in Africa more than in any other continent. The Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Eastern African states, and the Economic Community of Western Africa States (ECOWAS) are advancing towards a regional approach to tackling the scourge of small arms proliferation and have enacted legally binding instruments in this regard. The main reason for the subregional approach is that Africa is the worst-hit region in the world by unrestrained arms availability. This has devastating consequences that imperil human security and threaten the continent's achievement of development goals.