Abstract
The study investigated the proliferation of arms and regional conflict in West Africa. The
proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) in West Africa presents a deeply rooted
security, humanitarian and development challenge. Despite formal security forces being the
legitimate bearers of weaponry, large numbers of firearms are found outside State control. The
illegal trafficking of weapons frequently makes it more difficult to carry out development and
peacekeeping projects successfully. Additionally, it threatens the possibility of long-term security
in the sub-region. The study aimed to critically examine the impact of the proliferation of small
and light weapons on regional conflict in West Africa. The study adopted the failed state theory
propounded by Robert I. Rotberg in 2003. The study relied on secondary data; data were sourced
from NATCOM, ECOWAS (ECOSAP Programme) and Armed Conflict Location, among others.
This was supported by data from books, journal articles and seminar papers, among others. The
study concluded that in spite of the existence of regional, continental and international treaties
designed to curb the proliferation of SALWs, West Africa features prominently in the global map
of regions with a high circulation of arms. The proliferation is in geometric progression, while the
effort to curb it is going in arithmetic progression. The study recommended that West African
leaders should address the issues of poverty, insecurity, and the rising rate of unemployment, and
importantly, stricter measures need be taken on issues of corruption. Corruption, poverty,
insecurity, and unemployment render most of the efforts put in place to combat small arms in
Nigeria ineffective. This can be achieved through the formulation and implementation of
appropriate policies.