Beyond 'shadow-boxing' and 'lip service': The enforcement of arms embargoes in Africa

This paper, by means of a comparative case study approach, seeks to analyse the monitoring and enforcement of UN arms embargoes in Africa.

Since 1992, more than 15 United Nations (UN) arms embargoes have been imposed against African states and/or rebel groups. The enforcement of arms embargoes in Africa presents challenges to both the UN and the international community in general. Over the past ten years, the UN has sought to advance the effectiveness of its implementation of these arms embargoes by enhancing its organisational capacity and deepening its monitoring capability. This paper, by means of a comparative case study approach, seeks to analyse the monitoring and enforcement of UN arms embargoes in Africa.

About the author

Guy Lamb is Head of the Arms Management Programme at the Institute for Security Studies and has been conducting research on peace and security issues in sub-Saharan Africa since 1996. He holds a Masters degree in international and comparative politics from the University of Cape Town, and is a doctoral candidate at Rhodes University’s Department of Political and International Studies.