Supporting Weapons and Ammunition Management in Africa

The availability of illicit weapons and ammunition, including those originating out of state stockpiles, is a global problem. This project supports African entities that are mandated to strengthen weapons and ammunition management (WAM) at the national, regional and continental levels.

This project builds on the achievements of the Supporting Small Arms and Light Weapons Control in Africa project (2021–2025), deepening previous engagements in the field. Our work addresses the full spectrum of WAM challenges in Africa, from the practical to the strategic. We support partners in translating regional and international commitments into concrete action, strengthening WAM regimes, coordinated interventions and practical implementation. This helps reduce the risks of diversion and unintended explosions and ultimately contributes to greater community security. 

Our advisers provide tailored policy and technical support to national, regional and international organisations. We combine dialogue facilitation, targeted capacity-building, regulatory assessments and the development and enhancements of instruments, strategies and legislation with innovative tools and components where needed. Together with our partners, we deliver technical training on physical security and stockpile management (PSSM), the identification and tracing of (seized) weapons and ammunition, marking and record-keeping and destruction, further strengthening comprehensive and sustainable WAM capacities across the continent.

As part of the project, the Weapons and Ammunition Hub was developed to provide information, guidance and resources on different aspects of WAM, making them easily accessible to practitioners, policymakers and other interested audiences. It is designed to support weapons management worldwide, promoting knowledge, technical expertise and policy solutions to improve accountability, safety and security. 

German Federal Foreign Office