Implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty - Assessment of arms transfer control mechanisms in sub-Saharan African States

GRIP received the support of the  Direction générale des relations internationales et de la stratégie (DGRIS) of the French Ministry of Defense to conduct a study on conventional arms transfer control mechanisms in ten countries of French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa and their capacity to implement the Arms Trade Treaty.

This study is part of the initiatives undertaken by France to help African States implement commitments they will face as States parties to the ATT.

The four specific objectives of the study are:

• Assess current conventional arms transfer control mechanisms in the selected countries (including regulation, procedures and administrative, human, technical and financial capacities);
• Identify the priority needs of these States to implement the ATT (including implementation of legislation and regulation, setting and/or strengthening of arms control systems and agencies, measures to prevent risk of diversion, transparency and cooperation mechanisms, initiatives to fight illicit trafficking);
• Take stock of past or ongoing assistance programs for the control of conventional arms transfers but also within the framework of the fight against the proliferation of SALW (as far as aspects related to the implementation of the ATT are included), in order to benefit from their experiences, their successes and their challenges to contribute to future assistance programs;
• Provide recommendations for assistance programs with the best chance of success (as much in terms of area of ​​intervention as of modality).

Timeframe: September 2014 - March 2015

Supported by the Direction générale des relations internationales et de la stratégie (DGRIS) of the French Ministry of Defense

Lead researcher:  Cédric Poitevin.