They called for coordinated global action to end illicit flows that fuel conflict, organized crime and displacement – from Haiti to the Sahel.
Adedeji Ebo, deputy head of disarmament, highlighted that despite recent measures to strengthen arms control frameworks, “more than a billion firearms are in circulation around the world”, fueling conflicts, terrorism and criminal networks in several regions.
“The illicit trade and misuse of small arms and light weapons fuels armed violence, terrorism and organized crime,» he said.
“Weapons diverted from national stockpiles – or at any point in the supply chain – could end up in the hands of non-state armed groups. »
Proliferation of “ghost weapons”
He also highlighted the growing distribution of 3D-printed “ghost guns” without serial numbers, which are increasingly found on illicit markets in Western Europe and Latin America.
The human toll is heavy, he said. In 2024, the UN recorded at least 48,000 conflict-related civilian deaths, with small arms responsible for up to 30% in some contexts.
“These abuses are avoidable,» he stressed, calling for stricter stock controls, tracking systems and respect for arms embargoes.
Adedeji Ebo, Deputy High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, briefs the Security Council.
“A threat without borders”
Roraima Ana Andriani, UN Special Representative to INTERPOL – the international police and crime-fighting organization – has warned that illicit firearms trafficking is now deeply intertwined with cross-border organized crime, as networks use weapons to control territory, protect illicit economies and expand their influence.
“This is a transnational chain of violence that can only be combatted through transnational cooperation,» she said.
INTERPOL’s global iARMS database contains more than two million records of lost, stolen and trafficked weapons, she noted, supporting multinational operations that have seized thousands of firearms and dismantled networks linked to terrorism, trafficking and illegal mining.
But she warned that policing alone is not enough.
“No measure taken in isolation can prevent the circulation of these weapons throughout the world,she said, urging the Council to explicitly integrate INTERPOL’s role into sanctions and arms embargo mandates.
The African region under great pressure
Mohamed Ibn Chambas, the African Union’s top representative for silencing the guns, said the proliferation of small arms is “a cancer” leading to instability across the continent, from the Sahel to the Great Lakes region.
“These weapons are used to free horrific violence and suffering in the Darfur region from Sudan,“, he said, referring to the ongoing situation atrocities reported in El Fasher.
He said small arms control is “a prerequisite for lasting peace” and highlighted AU efforts to harmonize stockpile management and support amnesty and disarmament initiatives.
Africa Amnesty Month and related programs have led to the destruction of tens of thousands of weapons, he said, but the scale of the problem remains vast.
A wide view of the UN Security Council’s open debate on small arms and light weapons.
Haiti: Armed gangs control the territory
Arnoux Descardes, executive director of the Haitian civil society organization VDH, described the acute impact of illicit firearms in Haiti, where armed groups control main urban areas and main transport routes.
“Illegal firearms trafficking is a crisis multiplier,”It is estimated that between 270,000 and 500,000 firearms are in circulation in the country, but only about 45,000 are legally registered, he said.
“The proliferation of small arms in Haiti fuels insecurity and paralyzes social and economic life,” he said, calling for stricter border controls and disarmament programs.
Call for sustained and coordinated action
Mr. Ebo concluded by warning that “weapons produced and transferred today risk fueling instability tomorrow.”
He urged the Security Council integrate small arms control into peace operations, peacebuilding strategies and sanctions monitoring.
“Our responsibility is clear,” he said. “We must prevent the diversion and illicit manufacturing of small arms and light weapons, otherwise we will face the consequences of growing insecurity.»
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
