The United Nations has revealed that weapons looted during Libya’s 2011 conflict have found their way into the hands of extremist groups operating in Nigeria and across the wider Sahel region, highlighting the long-term security consequences of unchecked arms proliferation.
Speaking at the UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday, the UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu warned that weapons diverted during and after the fall of Muammar Gaddaficontinue to fuel violence, instability, and insecurity years after the conflict ended.
According to Nakamitsu, arms originating from Libya have surfaced across several countries in the Sahel, including Niger, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria, with some eventually being recovered from extremist groups.
“Some were subsequently found in the hands of extremist groups, illustrating how arms from one conflict can destabilise neighbouring countries years later,” she said.
The UN official stressed that the end of armed conflict does not automatically end the circulation of weapons, noting that firearms often remain hidden, trafficked across borders, and reused in future conflicts, criminal activities, and acts of terrorism.
She further warned that the proliferation of illicit small arms undermines peacebuilding efforts, fuels human rights violations, contributes to sexual and gender-based violence, and threatens sustainable development across vulnerable regions.
Nakamitsu also expressed concern over emerging threats such as ghost guns, 3D-printed firearms, and increasingly sophisticated arms trafficking networks, which make tracing and controlling illegal weapons more difficult for governments worldwide.
The UN continues to support member states through technical assistance, enhanced weapons tracing systems, improved stockpile security, and stronger border control measures aimed at curbing the spread of illicit arms.
