Small Arms in Africa: Where Does the Buck Stop?

The US is undoubtedly the biggest arms exporter to Africa contributing to about 50% of all arms export to the continent. It is an understatement to say that arms exports to Africa and political instabilities, armed conflicts, economic underachievement and poverty are closely linked.
The continent today is littered with hundreds of millions of small arms and light weapons that fuel conflicts and instabilities, making it difficult for any economic development to take place. Tens of millions of Africans have died from the export of arms to the continent and several millions others injured. About 90% of all civilian casualties in the wars come from the use of small arms and light weapons.
Besides, billions of dollars meant for economic and social development have been squandered on arms procurements to fund the instabilities while poverty is swallowing the people. It is estimated that the continent has lost about 500 billion dollars to arms imports alone while children have no access to education, medicines, water, shelter, food and clothing...more..http://www.africanexecutive.com/modules/magazine/articles.php?article=4204&magazine=221