Guns, kinship, and governance: The social infrastructure of small arms smuggling in Burkina Faso
Abstract
This study examines the social infrastructure of SALW proliferation in Burkina Faso through the theoretical lenses of borderland and state fragility theories. Situating the country’s SALW proliferation within the broader West African Sahel governance crisis, it analyses the impacts of ethnic networks, cross-border trade, and state failure on the proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW). Drawing on thirteen key informant interviews and secondary sources, the study highlights the embeddedness of SALW proliferation within routine socioeconomic practices, the selective arming of ethnic militias, and weak governance. It contributes to debates on hybrid governance in fragile states.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Political Conflict and Governance
Crime
Illicit Activities
and Governance
Peacebuilding and International Security
Publication details
- Journal / source
- African Security
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 340–360
- Publication date
- 7 February 2026
- Language
- EN