A new regional report highlights that illicit firearms continue to drive insecurity, banditry, and conflict across East Africa, undermining development despite two decades of control efforts.

• Illicit weapons remain widespread in border communities, fueling cycles of violence.
• The report was released in Nairobi on 25 March 2026 by the Regional Centre on Small Arms (RECSA) and the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR).
• Challenges include porous borders, instability in neighboring countries, evolving trafficking methods, and new threats like drones and improvised explosive devices.