Abstract

The aim of this paper is to make a review of Multi - Lateral Instruments and agreements aimed at combating the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Sub – Saharan Africa. Armed conflicts and the illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons are becoming a grave threat to the peace and security of most African countries. These proliferations are too great to be ignored. Conflicts today in Sub-Saharan Africa have become far too easy due to the availability of arms. Trade in arms has become a well-established and prosperous industry. Like other industries, it has become increasingly globalized. Over the last decade, Regional agreements and instruments have being made for the purposes of combating the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Sub- Saharan Africa. This paper concludes that lack of comprehensive national legislation on SALW coupled with the lack of political wills of most leaders in sub-Saharan African states have undermined the effectiveness and implementation of these instruments governing the control of SALW. However, in the best cases, regional instruments have supported global norm-building by creating institutional framework leading to coordination of small arms action in specific regions..