Thanks to all the participants at our training event two weeks ago in Mauritania. As part of our EU-LAS III project, the workshop focused on how weapons & ammunition management helps build national capacities to combat diversion and illicit trafficking across and within borders.

Last week Survey Director Mark Downes participated in the launch of the @gvagrad.bsky.social ’s #GenevaPolicyOutlook 2026 to discuss his contribution to the publication. Read the #GPO2026 here: www.genevapolicyoutlook.ch

The disorder generated by conflict in South Sudan’s Western Equatoria and Western Bahr el Ghazal states has enabled Salva Kiir’s regime to inflict political defeats on its opponents in Juba, while fracturing opposition forces in the periphery. More here: www.smallarmssurvey.org/resource/mak...

What are the main elements of Ukraine’s regulatory framework on arms and ammunition, and what improvements are needed to tackle the various proliferation challenges arising from the war? Find out more in our recent joint Report with CENSS: www.smallarmssurvey.org/resource/wea...

What does the rise and fall of South Sudan’s former Vice-President Benjamin Bol Mel indicate about the future of the country? Find out in this HSBA Situation Update launched in December: www.smallarmssurvey.org/resource/wun...

In the Caribbean, have the types of illicit firearms circulating and being misused evolved in recent years? And with what implications for crime, violence, and public health? Find out in our recent Report launched last December: www.smallarmssurvey.org/resource/pat...

There was a sharp decrease in respondents’ exposure to firearm safety awareness campaigns in Ukraine in 2025. More in this infographic, updated with data from a population survey conducted in Ukraine in October of last year: www.smallarmssurvey.org/resource/civ...

How can women diplomats be better supported in their involvement with the Arms Trade Treaty? At the recent event organized by @controlarms.bsky.social , Latvia, @unidir.org , @icrc.org and the ATT Secretariat, the Survey led a session on on ATT universalization and women's meaningful participation

Drawing on interviews conducted by national researchers in a neighbourhood impacted by a UEMS incident in Africa, this blog post from 2025 highlights the need for more research on gender-differentiated effects to better support the implementation the GFA: www.smallarmssurvey.org/resource/exp...

Ammunition remains the most traded small arms category worldwide, accounting for 35% of the value of reported global imports for the period 2019–24. Read more in this Situation Update from 2025, part of a collaborative project supported by SNIS: www.smallarmssurvey.org/resource/aut...

How do Ukrainians feel about current firearms regulations? Our population survey from January 2025 shows that 56% of respondents think that regulations should be stricter, and 73% believe that firearm possession should be limited to specific weapon types: www.smallarmssurvey.org/resource/civ...

Based on a general population survey, this 2025 #SANA paper demonstrates that in Lebanon, respondents with #firearms in their household were 28% more likely to sympathize with extremist groups.

Explosive precursor chemicals are not only components in IEDs but also have industrial and agricultural uses. This podcast from 2025 discusses the need for a collaborative approach that secures supply chains effectively while minimizing regulatory burdens: www.smallarmssurvey.org/resource/sma...

Proper #ammunition management practices, as promoted by the Global Framework for Through-life Conventional Ammunition Management, can prevent—or at least mitigate—the effects of unplanned explosions at munitions sites #UEMS. More in our 2025 Fact sheet: www.smallarmssurvey.org/resource/lin...

Criminals replace #ammunition more frequently than they acquire #firearms. Investigating illicit ammunition can provide information on supply chains and entry points for action. Read more in our 2025 blog post on ammunition seizures in the Caribbean: smallarmssurvey.medium.com/the-bullet-t...

Markings on recovered illicit ammunition provide data that helps authorities identify leads in suspected cases of ammunition trafficking and diversion, and yield information on subregional, regional and international trends. More in our 2025 infographic: www.smallarmssurvey.org/resource/reg...

#NAPs help foster diverse, meaningful participation in national and local #smallarmscontrol processes, deepen understanding of the root causes of violence, and address small arms control from a #development perspective. More in this paper from 2025: www.smallarmssurvey.org/resource/nat...

In the war against the Sudanese Armed Forces, the Rapid Support Forces have relied on external backing and regional partnerships that extend well beyond Sudan’s borders. Our new Situation Update examines the history of outsourced violence in the region: www.smallarmssurvey.org/resource/out...

We are seeking expressions of interest from data experts to provide key content expertise to support the Survey’s data-related projects. Interested? Please send your expression of interest and a short CV to [email protected] by 5 February 2026. #callforinterest #consultancy

The effectiveness of #NAPs is enhanced when human security, sustainable #development, good #governance, & #gender sensitivity are built into their design. Our How-to guide, from 2025, presents ways these perspectives can be included to strengthen NAP impact: www.smallarmssurvey.org/resource/dev...

The system created by Kiir’s mode of rule prevented the electoral process and blocked the Tumaini Peace Initiative. As our #BriefingPaper from 2025 discusses, the price of this unchecked power is civil war in #SouthSudan. Read more here: www.smallarmssurvey.org/resource/bri...

#Argentina recorded 250 #femicides in 2023; 75% were committed in the context of domestic violence & 21% were committed with a #firearm. This blog post from 2025 discusses a civilian disarmament initiative in Pehuajó that could inspire similar responses: smallarmssurvey.medium.com/up-close-and...

We are grateful for all the support our work has received this year, and wish everyone a safe and peaceful 2026! For more information about our projects, visit smallarmssurvey.org

33% of Ukrainian respondents have received some form of official firearm safety training. Out now an update to key findings from our latest population survey. Read more here: www.smallarmssurvey.org/resource/civ... @germany.diplo.de @npaid.bsky.social

Conflicts in Western Equatoria and Western Bahr el Ghazal. White armIES mobilization in Upper Nile and Jonglei. Succession uncertainty in Juba. What does this mean for stability in #SouthSudan? Find out more in this #HSBA webinar, recorded on 28 November: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLkY...

How effective has modern counter-IED (C-IED) doctrine been at addressing the impact of IEDs on local communities? Out today, we discuss past and current C-IED approaches, their drawbacks, and how adopting a whole-of-society approach could enhance their impact. www.smallarmssurvey.org/resource/mor...

Published today, our new Briefing Paper on South Sudan examines the state of the Nuer self-defence forces, commonly referred to as the white armies, and the role they play in the country’s fractured politics and shattered peace. Read more here: www.smallarmssurvey.org/resource/cou...

Out today, our new joint Report with CENSS on proliferation and control of arms and ammunition in wartime Ukraine: www.smallarmssurvey.org/resource/wea... This Report was produced with support from @germany.diplo.de

How does the conflict in South Sudan’s Western Equatoria and Western Bahr el Ghazal states fit into the government’s counterinsurgency strategy? Out now, our new Situation Update on the war in the west: www.smallarmssurvey.org/resource/mak...

Join the authors of our new Report this Wednesday, 10 December, at 16:00 CET to discuss small arms proliferation and control efforts in the region since the Russian full-scale invasion in 2022. mailchi.mp/smallarmssur...

Join us on 10 December at 16:00 CET for the online launch of our new Report on Ukraine! Register for the launch here: mailchi.mp/smallarmssur... @germany.diplo.de

Out today, our new Situation Update examines how Bol Mel rose so high, his connections to Kiir’s family, and his downfall. The paper also discusses the wider issue of succession to Kiir and what that could mean for an already fractured South Sudan: www.smallarmssurvey.org/resource/wun...

We are thrilled to sign three year memoranda of understanding with our two regional partners @caricom.bsky.social and CARPHA. These new agreements will enable us to deepen our cooperation to support counter-trafficking efforts and violence prevention www.smallarmssurvey.org/resource/pat...

Out now: Pathway to Policy: Firearms Trafficking and Public Health in the Caribbean @caricom.bsky.social www.smallarmssurvey.org/resource/pat...

Last week, our Director Mark Downes took part in a panel discussion on challenges, threats, and trends in illicit weapons trafficking in Ukraine, at the 3rd Nat’l Conf. on Preventing and Combating Trafficking & Illegal Circulation of Weapons, Ammunition and Explosives in Ukraine.

Tomorrow the Survey and its project partners will launch a new report on the #Caribbean that examines how trends in #firearms trafficking, misuse, and their impacts have evolved in recent years. @caricom.bsky.social

Firearms trafficking from the US to the Caribbean is often referred to as 'ant trade', but the term does not do justice to the scope and scale of some trafficking operations.

On 2 December the Survey and its project partners are launching a new Report that examines the complex issues driving firearm-related violence and trafficking in the Caribbean and outlines how to create pathways to effective policies. Mark your calendars! www.smallarmssurvey.org/project/path...

This week, the Small Arms Survey delivered its first Threat Picture Assessment workshop at the Humanitarian Peace Support School Embakasi in Nairobi, Kenya.

Save the date! 10 December, 16h00-17:30 CET, the online launch of our new Report on #Ukraine. Weapons Compass: Proliferation and Control of Arms and Ammunition in Wartime Ukraine analyzes small arms proliferation and control efforts in Ukraine since the Russian full-scale invasion in February 2022

AR- and AK-pattern rifles comprise a modest but growing share of firearms found in Caribbean-bound shipments seized at US ports. More on arms trafficking to the Caribbean in our new Report, Pathway to Policy: Firearms Trafficking and Public Health in the Caribbean, out on 2 Dec. #pathwaytopolicy

In the two years since our previous #Caribbean Firearms Study was released, how has firearm-related violence and trafficking in the region evolved? Find out on 2 December 2025 #pathwaytopolicy @caricom.bsky.social @germany.diplo.de

How are we doing in advancing #SDG16 on justice, peace and strong institutions in line with #SDG5 on #gender equality? Survey expert Callum Watson shared his insights on gender-responsive approaches to reducing violence in this year's SDG Data Initiative Report: www.idea.int/un-and-democ...

Pour un relèvement rapide après une explosion accidentelle sur un site de munitions, il faut élaborer des plans d'urgence qui tiennent compte des impacts liés au genre. Notre article souligne la nécessité d'approfondir les recherches sur ce sujet: www.smallarmssurvey.org/resource/exp...

Effective recovery from unplanned explosions at munitions sites involves developing emergency plans that include all sections of the community and understand gendered impacts. Our new blog post highlights the need for more research on this topic: www.smallarmssurvey.org/resource/exp...

This Thursday 13 November (9:00 AM ET), our colleague Khristopher Carlson, who leads our work in East Africa, will provide regional insights on the nexus of illicit firearms and organized crime as part of an event organized by the @forumarmstrade.bsky.social. More info and registration link below:

Excited to participate in the 5th Annual Meeting of States of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap on 11-12 Nov. in Trinidad and Tobago, and reflect on the progress so far under the Roadmap and the priorities moving forward. Find out about our work in the region: www.smallarmssurvey.org/project/path...

Last week at the @thegichd.bsky.social Innovation Conference 2025 in Luxembourg, the Survey discussed how partnerships and a collaborative approach to data collection and analysis can support innovation. Thanks to GICHD, fellow panelists, and all attendees. Photos: ©GICHD/PANCAKE! photographie

How have civilian attitudes and perceptions towards #firearms in #Ukraine changed since the 2022 Russian full-scale invasion? Our new infographic presents key findings from our latest population survey, conducted in January 2025: www.smallarmssurvey.org/resource/civ...

Last week, US border agents discovered more than 300 firearms in a single illegal shipment interdicted at the US- Mexico. The firearms were packed floor to ceiling behind false walls in two towed utility trailers (see photos below).