The evolution of armed violence and insecurity and the proliferation of SALW in South Sudan are closely linked to the security context – which is marked by an excess of armed groups, ethnic and tribal militias, local self-defence groups, and widespread ownership of firearms among cattle herders and young people. In this report, we explore the current risks and main challenges to national and international arms control measures in South Sudan. We review national arms control capacities, legislation and institutions, and investigate the state of research and data on the prevalence and proliferation of small arms. The report considers the implications of demand-driven SALW proliferation for arms control, and offers recommendations for moving forward. This report is a part of a series of publications under the Africa-China-EU project, funded by the European Union.
