The United Nations has revealed that weapons looted during the 2011 Libyan conflict have continued to circulate across West Africa, with some later ending up in the possession of extremist groups operating in Nigeria and other parts of the Sahel region.

The disclosure was made by the UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu, during discussions at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on the global spread of illicit arms and its impact on peace and security.

Nakamitsu warned that weapons stolen, diverted, or looted during armed conflicts often remain in circulation long after hostilities end, fueling insecurity, terrorism, and organised crime across borders.

According to her, arms looted during the uprising that led to the fall of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi have resurfaced across several countries in the Sahel, including Nigeria, Niger, and Burkina Faso.

She explained that the situation highlights how instability in one country can have long-term security consequences for neighbouring states.

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Nakamitsu noted that weapons diverted during and after the 2011 Libyan crisis have been traced to armed groups operating across West Africa, including extremist organisations.

“Some were subsequently found in the hands of extremist groups, illustrating how arms from one conflict can destabilise neighbouring countries years later,” she said.

She stressed that the end of armed conflict does not automatically stop the movement of weapons, warning that illicit arms continue to circulate through hidden networks, cross-border trafficking routes, and criminal supply chains.

“The end of the conflict does not mean the end of the circulation of those weapons; it stays, and it continues to harm people,” she added.

The UN official further explained that small arms and light weapons proliferation remains one of the biggest threats to peacebuilding efforts in fragile and conflict-affected regions. She said weapons retained by armed groups, militias, and even civilians for self-defence often contribute to renewed cycles of violence.

Nakamitsu added that the issue goes beyond security concerns, describing it as a broader development and human rights challenge. She linked illicit firearms to terrorism, organised crime, gender-based violence, and widespread human rights abuses.

“It is not just a security issue. It is also about peacebuilding. It is about human rights. It is also about development,” she said.

She also raised concerns about emerging technologies complicating global arms control efforts, including 3D-printed firearms, so-called “ghost guns,” and increasingly sophisticated smuggling networks. According to her, these innovations make it more difficult for authorities to trace and intercept illegal weapons.

“Those weapons or weapon parts, if they are disassembled and then trafficked, are more difficult to trace,” she noted.

The UN’s warning comes amid ongoing security challenges in the Sahel region, where armed groups continue to exploit weak border controls and unstable governance structures.

The report underscores growing international concern that conflict-driven arms flows remain a major driver of insecurity across West Africa years after the original conflicts have ended.