ARMS PROLIFERATION AND THE SPREAD OF SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS (SALWS) IN WEST AFRICA: A FRUSTRATION–AGGRESSION THEORY ANALYSIS OF REGIONAL INSECURITY DYNAMICS

Abstract

The proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALWs) has emerged as a major driver of persistent insecurity across West Africa, where insurgency, terrorism, banditry, and communal conflicts continue to threaten regional stability. Despite numerous security interventions, the widespread availability of illicit weapons has intensified violence and undermined state authority, raising critical concerns about the underlying causes of this insecurity. This study therefore examines the relationship between SALWs proliferation and insecurity in West Africa, with the primary objective of explaining how structural conditions contribute to the escalation of armed violence. Adopting a qualitative research methodology, the study relies on secondary sources, including academic literature, policy reports, and institutional publications. The analysis is anchored on Frustration–Aggression Theory, which provides a framework for understanding how socio-economic and political frustrations arising from poverty, unemployment, inequality, weak governance, and marginalization translate into aggressive and violent behavior when access to weapons is readily available. The significance of this study lies in its contribution to bridging the gap between structural causes of violence and the instrumental role of SALWs in facilitating conflict. Findings reveal that the proliferation of SALWs not only sustains existing conflicts but also lowers the threshold for violence, making it easier for frustrated individuals and groups, particularly youths, to engage in armed aggression. The study concludes that insecurity in West Africa cannot be effectively addressed without simultaneously tackling both the structural roots of frustration and the unchecked spread of weapons. It therefore recommends improved governance, strengthened arms control mechanisms, and enhanced regional cooperation as essential strategies for achieving lasting peace and security.