Small Arms, Armed Violence, and Insecurity in Nigeria: The Niger Delta in Perspective
by Jennifer M. Hazen with Jonas Horner, December 2007
Occasional Paper No. 20
This study aims to raise awareness of a number of issues relating to insecurity, armed violence, and the proliferation of illicit small arms in Nigeria since its return to democracy in 1999. The report looks at the causes of armed violence in Nigeria, the circulation and demand of both legal and illegal small arms, the types of violence in Nigeria and the role of armed groups and their evolution in the Niger Delta in particular. Among its many findings, the study reveals how the extremely competitive nature of elections, which are often perceived of as zero-sum conflicts, has led to an increasingly militarized nature of politics and the inculcation of a culture of violence in Nigerian society.
Quoi de neuf sur le front congolais ? Evaluation de base sur la circulation des armes légères et de petit calibre en République du Congo par Robert Muggah et Ryan Nichols, publié avec le Programme des Nations Unies pour le Développement (PNUD)–République du Congo, décembre 2007
Rapport spécial No. 8
Ce rapport contient une base importante d'informations pour orienter le PNUD vers une meilleure planification de son engagement dans le DDR. Utilisant une série de méthodes basées sur des enquêtes, ce rapport donne un aperçu sur le nombre et la répartition des armes en République du Congo, leur ampleur, les effets de leur présence sur la population civile et les motivations et attentes des bénéficiaires potentiels du programme de DDR. Ce rapport met aussi en évidence les menaces, caractérisées par les groupes à « haut risque », qui pourraient porter atteinte à la sécurité en République du Congo. Ainsi, le rapport propose des activités additionnelles pour appuyer le PNDDR, telles que le désarmement et les interventions liées à la prévention de la violence et des conflits, qui devraient être considérées comme prioritaires à long terme.
Sudan Human Security Baseline Assessment (HSBA) publications
The Small Arms Survey's Sudan Human Security Baseline Assessment (HSBA) is a multi-disciplinary research project designed to expand understanding and awareness on safety and security throughout Sudan. The project's Sudan Issue Briefs and Working Papers present findings of the HSBA Team's field research. They are also available in Arabic. The most recent HSBA publications are:
A Paramilitary Revolution: The Popular Defense Forces
by Jago Salmon
Sudan Issue Brief Number 10, December 2007
This paper provides a historical review of the Popular Defense Forces from 1989 until 2006, focusing on its emergence and evolution as a national institution. The objective is to provide a historical view of an organization that has remained vaguely defined, as well as an analysis of its role and capabilities since the signing of the CPA using a range of sources including interviews, primary and secondary literature, and direct observation. The final analysis is developed from comparisons with other paramilitary organizations and reflections on the different historical periods of the PDF itself.
Armed Groups Along Sudan's Eastern Frontier: An Overview and Analysis
by John Young
Sudan Issue Brief Number 9, November 2007
This study examines armed groups along Sudan's eastern frontier, analyzing them both in historical terms and in the context of rapidly changing governments and inter-state relations. During Sudan 's first and second civil wars dissident southerners gained the support of neighbouring states. Successive national governments in turn supported armed groups opposed to the regimes in Addis Ababa and later Asmara in a pattern that has continued until the present.
The Lord's Resistance Army in Sudan: A History and Overview
by Mareike Schomerus
Sudan Issue Brief Number 8, September 2007
The ongoing peace talks between the Government of Uganda and the Lord's Resistance Army/Movement (LRA/M) in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, have created renewed international interest in the conflict in northern Uganda. While the negotiations have proved extremely difficult, they have opened up new channels of communication with the LRA. The talks have also allowed the affected population of Eastern and Western Equatoria, South Sudan, to voice their grievances against the LRA and raise questions about the conduct of the Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF) in Sudan . This study examines the military history of the LRA in Sudan , the current prospects for ending the conflict, and the main challenges facing the peace talks.
Forthcoming publications
In the coming months, the Small Arms Survey will be releasing new reports that explore small arms and light weapons issues in Karamoja (Uganda), the Philippines, the Central African Republic and Afghanistan as well as a reference guide on Conventional Ammunition in Surplus.
Quoted and cited
Selected recent press coverage
Small Arms Survey staff members, research, and publications were quoted in the following recent news stories:
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