The United Nations has warned that weapons looted during Libya’s 2011 conflict have found their way into the hands of terrorists operating in Nigeria, years after the fall of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Speaking at the UN headquarters in New York, Izumi Nakamitsu said arms stolen or diverted during and after the Libyan conflict have spread across the Sahel, fuelling violence and instability in countries including Nigeria, Niger and Burkina Faso.
According to Nakamitsu, some of the weapons were later recovered from extremist groups, demonstrating how arms originating from one conflict can continue to destabilise neighbouring nations long after fighting has ended.
She stressed that the end of a war does not automatically end the circulation of weapons, noting that firearms often remain hidden, cross borders and continue to cause harm years later.
The UN official warned that the proliferation of small arms poses a major obstacle to peacebuilding efforts. Weapons retained by armed groups, militias and even communities seeking self-defence can contribute to renewed violence and prolonged instability.
Troops kill four terrorists, recover weapons, cash in Katsina
Nakamitsu also linked the spread of illicit firearms to terrorism, human rights abuses and sexual and gender-based violence, arguing that the issue extends beyond security concerns to affect development and peacebuilding.
She further highlighted emerging threats posed by so-called ghost guns, 3D-printed firearms and increasingly sophisticated trafficking networks, which make tracing and monitoring illegal weapons far more difficult for authorities.
The remarks underscore growing international concerns over the long-term consequences of unsecured weapons stockpiles and the role illicit arms trafficking continues to play in worsening insecurity across the Sahel and parts of West Africa.
