West Africa: Are West Africa's Gunsmiths Making Violence Cheap?

analysis

The trafficking and illicit circulation of small arms and light weapons are often discussed in the context of fuelling instability and insecurity in West Africa. Rarely, however, is the issue of locally manufactured weapons given appropriate attention in these conversations.

The production of firearms by local artisans is not new to the region. It has existed in many countries - including Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo - for decades, and in Ghana for centuries. Over time, local manufacturers' knowledge has improved and the level of activity seems to have increased.

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