斯德哥尔摩国际和平研究所-Arms-transfers-to-East-and-Southern-Africa_8页_461kb

Summary of "ARMS TRANSFERS TO EAST AND SOUTHERN AFRICA"

Core Content

This paper provides an overview of arms transfers to and within East and Southern Africa (ESA), focusing on the challenges of transparency, the role of small arms and light weapons (SALW), and the implications for regional security. It is part of a series of background papers supporting the feasibility discussions of an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) among UN member states.

Main Points

1. Arms Transfers Overview

• Most arms procured by governments and non-state groups in ESA come from outside the region.
• The region has limited arms production capabilities, relying heavily on imported technology and components.
• South Africa is the only significant arms exporter in the region, ranking 17th globally in 2004-2008.
• Arms transfers include major conventional weapons, SALW, and military equipment for peace operations.
• Some countries, like Ethiopia and Sudan, have developed small military industries.

2. Arms Imports

• Arms imports by ESA states accounted for only 3.5% of global arms imports (2004-2008).
• Despite small volumes, these imports can significantly contribute to armed violence and economic burden.
• South Africa was the largest importer of major conventional arms in the region during 2004-2008.
• Examples of SALW imports include:
  • Djibouti: 14 machine guns and 141 rifles from the USA in 2005
  • Eritrea: 50 mortars from Bulgaria in 2008
  • Ethiopia: 114 light weapons from Bulgaria in 2007
  • Kenya: 40,000 rifles and 405 grenade launchers from Ukraine in 2007
  • Rwanda: 5000 rifles and 76,500 kg of ammunition from Bulgaria in 2005
  • Somalia: 5000 firearms from Yemen in 2005
  • Uganda: 1000 automatic rifles from Ukraine in 2007

3. International Transfers of Small Arms and Light Weapons

• SALW are widely used in violent conflicts in the region.
• The uncontrolled spread of SALW threatens national and regional peace.
• There is a lack of reliable data on SALW flows, but some reports indicate significant imports.
• Illegal arms transfers to and within the region are common, especially to groups under UN sanctions.
• The lack of border-monitoring capabilities facilitates arms smuggling, particularly by air.

4. Arms Suppliers

• A variety of countries supply arms to ESA, including Germany, Russia, the UK, China, and the USA.
• South Africa is the only ESA country that exports arms.
• Arms exports may be motivated by financial gain, political influence, or resource access.
• Some countries supply arms for free or at low cost to support peacekeeping efforts, though such donations are rare.

Key Information

5. Transparency Issues

• Many ESA states lack transparency in arms procurement, which hampers policymaking and contributes to corruption.
• The UN Register of Conventional Arms (UNROCA) aims to increase transparency but has limited participation from ESA countries.
• Only nine ESA countries reported more than three times between 1999-2008, and only three more than six times.
• Only Swaziland submitted a report including information on SALW transfers.
• Despite the inclusion of SALW in UNROCA since 2003 and simplified reporting mechanisms since 2006, transparency remains low.

6. Regional and Global Context

• Military expenditure in ESA was less than 1% of global military expenditure in 2008.
• The region's lack of transparency obstructs an informed debate on the ATT and verification of any future treaty.
• Some countries, like Chad, Sudan, and Kenya, have been involved in recent arms procurement that may lead to destabilizing accumulations.

7. Conclusion

• The paper highlights the need for better coordination between arms exporters and importers.
• An ATT could help address the challenges of arms control and transparency.
• Lessons from the implementation of UN embargoes are important for improving future arms transfer policies in the region.

References

• Data on arms transfers is sourced from SIPRI Arms Transfers Database.
• Military expenditure data is from SIPRI Military Expenditure Database.
• Information on UNROCA participation is from the UNROCA online database.
• The paper is part of a series of region-specific background papers by SIPRI.

About the Author

• Pieter D. Wezeman is a Senior Researcher with SIPRI's Arms Transfers Programme.
• He has worked at SIPRI since 1994 and rejoined in 2006.
• Previously, he was a Senior Analyst for the Dutch Ministry of Defence on proliferation of conventional and nuclear weapons.