Abstract
Borderland security and proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALWs), in Africa has been a source of growing concern in both academic and policy circles in recent years. The flouring trade in SALWs as well as the effects of globalization has contributed to the growing incidence of border violation and insecurity. The problem posed by the uncontrolled proliferation of SALWs and the porous nature of international boundaries and borderlands in Africa is largely responsible for civil wars, communal conflicts, resource wars, criminality, insurgency and terrorism which spawned and exacerbated cultures of violence and crisis of governance. The borderlands have become notoriously “porous”, “ungoverned” and “ungovernable” locations and spaces which allows for easy permeation of SALWs with devastating and catastrophic consequences. The reoccurrence of criminal activities which has hampered the socio-economic development of the borders, suggest the need to advocate for a broad base regional integration in order to consolidate on the existing framework of the African Union. In addition, a dynamic information system between and among neighbouring countries will boost security and by extension socio-economic as well as political development of the borderlands of Africa.
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Rufus, A.I. (2021). Borderland Security and Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Africa. In: Tar, U.A., Onwurah, C.P. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Small Arms and Conflicts in Africa. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-62183-4_9
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