Transnational Syndicates and Cross-Border Transfer of Small Arms and Light Weapons in West Africa : A Threat to Regional Security

Fundamental to the independence of a state is the functionality of its border control. Within the internal and external environment of the West African sub-region are the Transnational Syndicates whose activities threaten the region's security sustainability. Using the qualitative research approach, this paper explores the impact of small arms proliferation on West African regional security. The paper also highlights some of the structural factors that make proliferation possible, compounding security challenges in the region. It also attempts to assess the effort of the regional body (ECOWAS) in combating the threat and concludes that reviewing of obsolete laws regulating the proliferation of SALWs, training and strengthening the law enforcement agencies along borders and knowledge based joint cross-border research programmes that would accentuate informed security policies would be the antidote.