Small Arms Commission Destroys 3,900 Weapons
By John Marah
Sierra Leone has destroyed approximately 3,900 unserviceable weapons so far in 2025, marking a major step in the country’s disarmament and arms control strategy. The announcement was made by Major General (Rtd) Christian Fahim Marah, the Commissioner General of the Sierra Leone Commission on Arms and Ammunition.
“We are not only destroying weapons — we are building a safer Sierra Leone,” he said, emphasizing the Commission’s progress under the new National Action Plan (2025–2029).
The journey to this milestone began after the civil war, when the country transitioned to UNAMSIL (United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone), ushering in peace. One of the most significant post-war initiatives was disarmament — the collection of weapons from ex-combatants. Prior to this, firearms were widespread. After the process, only UNAMSIL personnel and the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces were allowed to carry arms legally.
Yet, between 2002 and 2009, there was no national mechanism to continue retrieving arms from civilians. In 2010, the disarmament service was officially shut down.
To address this gap, Parliament established the Sierra Leone National Commission on Small Arms. That law was later repealed and replaced in 2012. Then, in 2024, Parliament passed Act No. 23, creating the Sierra Leone Commission on Arms and Ammunition — a move that brought the country into full compliance with the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms.
Why the change? According to international norms set after the Second World War — including the ATT and regional standards by the African Union and ECOWAS — countries like Sierra Leone have both legal and moral obligations to strengthen arms control. The previous legal frameworks fell short, necessitating a more robust and updated law.
Aside from weapon destruction, the Commission has also marked a total of 8,500 previously seized arms, and continues its weapons marking campaign, recently completed in the south and east, now expanding to the north and western regions. From July 21–25, the Commission also held a national training session on operating weapons marking machines.
“Marking weapons increases accountability,” said Commissioner General Marah. “It means if a crime is committed with a firearm, it can be traced back to the individual, agency, or institution that owns it.”
He gave an example: a weapon used in a crime might be traced to someone like Barnabas Judas, a registered firearm license holder. This kind of accountability is essential in reducing gun violence and controlling proliferation.
The Commission is also expanding its presence, having opened regional offices in Bo and Makeni, with plans for Port Loko and Kenema next.
Fresh from an African Union Fellowship Programme, Marah expressed concern over the estimated 4 million rifles in civilian hands across parts of Africa, calling it a grave public safety threat.
“Disarmament is not just about removing guns,” he said. “It’s about protecting our future and keeping our communities safe.”
