Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Gambia faces critical challenges in regulating its arms trade as the nation is striving to align with international arms control frameworks. A recent national assessment report highlights gaps in legislative and institutional arrangements, revealing vulnerabilities that could enable illicit arms transfers in a region already grappling with instability.

The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), adopted in 2013, aims to establish rigorous international standards for the trade of conventional arms. While The Gambia acceded to the ATT in September 2024, it remains an emerging player in the arms trade.

For example, early in 2019, GACH Security, a Gambian company, imported single-barrel and semi-automatic rifles, officially, for hunting and recreational purposes, into The Gambia. The company’s gun importing license was revoked after a container of guns was seized at Banjul ports. The Gambia Police Force investigated the circumstances surrounding the seized firearms and came to the conclusion that there was no evidence of illegal gun importation.

The Gambia’s minimal history with commercial arms production or significant imports belies its strategic location, which raises risks of becoming a transit hub for illicit arms.

Therefore, the Gambia’s Arms Trade Treaty report underscores that porous borders with Senegal and weak enforcement mechanisms at entry points like the Banjul International Airport and Seaport exacerbate the issue. These vulnerabilities could facilitate arms trafficking, particularly in a sub-region where security threats are rampant.

Central to the challenges is outdated and fragmented legislation. The Gambia’s primary laws governing arms, including the Arms & Ammunition Act (1924) and the National Commission Against the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons Act (2009), fall short of addressing contemporary requirements under the ATT.

Ambiguities in defining conventional arms beyond small arms and light weapons (SALW) leave gaps in oversight. There are insufficient provisions for regulating brokering activities and transit controls, and exemptions for state security agencies weaken the universality of the framework.

These legislative shortcomings undermine comprehensive oversight and conflict with the ATT’s call for stringent controls over all arms transfers, including those by state actors.

Institutional arrangements also present challenges. The National Commission Against the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW Commission) lacks the mandate and capacity to oversee the broader scope of arms control required under the ATT.

The absence of a centralized licensing authority and insufficient inter-agency coordination further hampers the effective implementation of arms trade regulations. To address these gaps, the report advocates transforming the SALW Commission into a broader “National Commission on Conventional Arms,” tasked with unifying arms control responsibilities and fostering cross-governmental cooperation.

The report outlines a comprehensive reform agenda to address these challenges. Legislative amendments are necessary, including revisions to the Arms & Ammunition Act to make it the primary legal instrument for ATT compliance.

This should include adopting the Wassenaar Arrangement Munitions List to create a detailed national control list. A centralized licensing authority with clear guidelines is recommended to improve accountability and ensure all licensing decisions are publicly accessible.

Border controls must also be strengthened by limiting arms transfers to designated points of entry, enhancing secure storage facilities, and introducing tracking systems to manage shipments effectively.

Furthermore, capacity building is essential to equip government agencies with the necessary training and digital infrastructure for managing arms transfer records and conducting risk assessments. Civil society organizations should be actively engaged in oversight mechanisms to promote transparency and ensure a balanced approach to regulation.

As the last Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member to accede to the ATT, The Gambia has the opportunity to become a model for balancing limited resources with global obligations. Its success, however, will depend on international assistance and regional cooperation, particularly with ECOWAS partners, to curtail arms proliferation in West Africa.

The stakes are high; without these reforms, The Gambia risks becoming a conduit for illicit arms flows in an already volatile region. By addressing these challenges head-on, the country can contribute to national and regional security while fulfilling its international obligations.