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Exposed! Source where extremist groups get weapons uncovered
The United Nations has raised concerns over the long-term impact of weapons looted during the 2011 Libyan conflict, revealing that some of the arms later found their way into the hands of extremist groups operating in Nigeria and other countries in the Sahel region.
Speaking at a meeting on the proliferation of illicit firearms 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 conflicts often continue to fuel violence long after hostilities have ended.
According to Nakamitsu, arms looted or diverted during and after the 2011 conflict in Libya, which led to the overthrow of former leader Muammar Gaddafi, later resurfaced across the wider Sahel region, including in Niger, Burkina Faso and Nigeria.
“Some were subsequently found in the hands of extremist groups, illustrating how arms from one conflict can destabilise neighbouring countries years later,” she said.
Nakamitsu noted that the circulation of such weapons often persists even after wars have ended, posing continued threats to peace and security.
“The end of the conflict does not mean the end of the circulation of those weapons; it stays, and it continues to harm people,” she added.
The UN official stressed that the proliferation of small arms and light weapons can undermine peacebuilding efforts and contribute to renewed violence and instability, especially when retained by armed groups, militias or communities for self-defence.
She further linked illicit weapons to a range of security and humanitarian challenges, including human rights abuses, terrorism, and sexual and gender-based violence.
“It is not just a security issue. It is also about peacebuilding. It is about human rights. It is also about development,” Nakamitsu said.
She warned that weapons used during conflicts often remain outside government control, crossing borders and fuelling criminal activities long after hostilities have ceased.
“Wars end, but unfortunately, the weapons that are used in that particular conflict would not be under full control. They continue to circulate. They are sometimes hidden. They are brought across borders,” she stated.
Nakamitsu also highlighted emerging threats posed by ghost guns, 3D-printed firearms and increasingly sophisticated trafficking networks, noting that disassembled weapons and parts are often more difficult for authorities to trace.
The remarks underscore growing international concerns over the proliferation of illicit arms across the Sahel and their role in sustaining insecurity and extremist violence in the region.