Gendered Construction of Conflict and Small Arms Proliferation in Africa

Abstract

Armed conflicts have bedeviled African states, and have become a recurring decimal on the continent. The widespread nature of armed conflicts has plunged the continent into an abyss of socio-economic and development challenges, huge infrastructural deficit, widespread poverty, displacements and migration flows to mention a few. In all these, the proliferation of small arms has played a central role in increasing the lethality and longevity of armed conflicts as they remain the weapons of choice for armed groups and the armed forces. Indeed, armed conflict and small arms proliferation are gendered in nature as men, women, boys and girls are affected by them differently. Armed conflict, aided and facilitated by small arms exacerbate the existing gender inequality in Africa, and exposes women to widespread sexual violence including rape, deaths, intimidation and displacements. While men remain the major victims of gun-related deaths and suicides, it appears women and other vulnerable persons—such as the children, elderly, disabled peoples—are worse affected by the scars of armed violence. Furthermore, the violence created by the proliferation of small arms continues into post-conflict periods with increase in domestic and intimate partner violence. Using a desk review of literature, this chapter examines the gender dimensions of armed conflict and the proliferation of small arms in Africa based on the lived experiences of men and women.