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Botswana — Gun Facts, Figures and the Law

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StockpilesGun Numbers

Civilian Guns

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms

The estimated total number of guns held by civilians in Botswana is 87,0001

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Rate of Civilian Firearm Possession per 100 Population

The rate of private gun ownership in Botswana is 4.92 firearms per 100 people

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms - World Ranking

In a comparison of the number of privately owned guns in 178 countries, Botswana ranked at No. 1421

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Rate of Privately Owned Firearms per 100 Population - World Ranking

In a comparison of the rate of private gun ownership in 179 countries, Botswana ranked at No. 1022

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Number of Registered Firearms

The number of registered guns in Botswana is reported to be 32,9011

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Rate of Registered Firearms per 100 Population

The rate of registered firearms per 100 people in Botswana is 1.793

Government Guns

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Number of Military Firearms

The defence forces of Botswana are reported to have 17,1004 firearms

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Number of Law Enforcement Firearms

Police in Botswana are reported to have 2,5985 firearms

ImpactsGun Death and Injury

Number of Homicides (any method)

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Rate of Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)

ChartIn Botswana, the annual rate of homicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2006: 11.906
2005: 13.40
2004: 17.85
2003: 14.98
2002: 10.26
2001: 12.15
2000: 12.84
1996: 12.87
1995: 15.55

TransfersGun Trade and Trafficking

Export Control

In Botswana, firearm and ammunition exports are limited by transfer control law 7

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Small Arms Exports (US$)

The annual value of small arms and ammunition exports from Botswana is reported to be US$21,1628 (2009)

Import Control

In Botswana, firearm and ammunition imports are limited by transfer control law 7 9

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Small Arms Imports (US$)

The annual value of small arms and ammunition imports to Botswana is reported to be US$1,157,2088 (2009)

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Market Cost of an AK-47 Assault Rifle (US$)

The asking price for an AK-47 pattern assault weapon in Botswana is reported to be US$20010

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Regulation of Arms Brokers

In Botswana, the activities of arms brokers and transfer intermediaries are not specifically regulated by law11

MeasuresGun Regulation

Firearm Registration

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Civilian Gun Registration

In Botswana, the law requires12 that a record of the acquisition, possession and transfer of each privately held firearm be retained in an official register

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Gun Dealer Record Keeping

In Botswana, licensed firearm dealers are required12 to keep a record of each firearm or ammunition purchase, sale or transfer on behalf of a regulating authority

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Gun Manufacturer Record Keeping

In Botswana, licensed gun makers are required12 to keep a record of each firearm produced, for inspection by a regulating authority

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State-Owned Firearm Records

In Botswana, State agencies are required12 to maintain records of the storage and movement of all firearms and ammunition under their control

Marking and Tracing Guns and Ammunition

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Firearm Marking

In Botswana, a unique identifying mark on each firearm is required by law9

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Firearm Tracing

In Botswana, state authorities carry out9 recognised arms tracing and tracking procedures

MeasuresInternational Controls

Regional Agreements

African Union

In June 2006, as a member of the African Union, Botswana adopted an African Common Position to take to the Conference to Review the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA), held in June 200613

Southern African Development Community

As a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Botswana signed the SADC Declaration Concerning Firearms, Ammunition and Other Related Materials in March 2001. This laid the ground for the August, 2001 adoption of the legally binding SADC Protocol on Control of Firearms, Ammunition and Other Related Materials14

United Nations Arms Trade Treaty

In 2009, Botswana voted to begin15 negotiations towards a legally binding Arms Trade Treaty. In this vote, 151 UN Member States supported talks on an ATT, with 1 voting against, 20 abstentions, and 20 non-votes

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United Nations Firearms Protocol

The United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition has not been signed16 by Botswana

United Nations Small Arms Programme of Action UNPoA

UNPoA Commitment

On 21 July 2001, Botswana committed to a consensus decision of the United Nations to adopt, support and implement the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects17

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UNPoA National Reporting

Under the terms of its 2001 commitment to the United Nations small arms Programme of Action, Botswana has submitted one or more national reports18 11 on its implementation of the UNPoA

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UNPoA National Point of Contact

In Botswana, a National Point of Contact to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has been designated19 11

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UNPoA National Coordinating Body

In Botswana, a National Coordinating Body to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has been designated19 11

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UNPoA International Assistance – Donor

Funds for UNPoA implementation have not been donated11 by Botswana to other UN Member States

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UNPoA International Assistance – Recipient

Funds for UNPoA implementation have been provided11 to Botswana by other UN Member States

United Nations Small Arms Register

According to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, Botswana has not declared20 its small arms exports in one or more annual National Reports on Arms Exports.

United Nations Membership

In the UN List of Member States, Botswana has been a Member State of the United Nations since 196621

Wassenaar Arrangement

The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies does not list22 Botswana as a Participating State
Last Updated on 24 January 2012

Short References

1.

Karp, Aaron.2007.‘Completing the Count: Civilian firearms.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q4)Full Citation

2.

Karp, Aaron.2007.‘Completing the Count: Civilian firearms.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q5)Full Citation

3.

GunPolicy.org.2011.‘Calculated Rates – Botswana.’ Historical Population Data – USCB International Data Base.Suitland, MD:US Census Bureau Population Division,17 March. (Q4210)Full Citation

4.

Karp, Aaron.2006.‘Trickle and Torrent: State stockpiles.’ Small Arms Survey 2006: Unfinished Business.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q6)Full Citation

5.

Karp, Aaron.2006.‘Trickle and Torrent: State stockpiles.’ Small Arms Survey 2006: Unfinished Business.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q7)Full Citation

6.

Petrini, Benjamin.2011.‘Sub-Saharan Africa, 1995-2008, Total Recorded Intentional Homicide, Completed, Rate per 100,000 Population.’ World Bank Homicide Rate Dataset 1995-2008.Washington DC:Social Development Department, World Bank,10 February. (Q3812)Full Citation

7.

IANSA.2006.‘Reviewing Action on Small Arms 2006: Assessing the first five years of the UN Programme of Action.’ Biting the Bullet 'Red Book' 2006.New York:International Action Network on Small Arms and the Biting the Bullet project,26 June. (Q82)Full Citation

8.

Marsh, Nicholas.2011.‘Database of Authorised Transfers of Small Arms and Light Weapons.’ NISAT Small Arms Trade Database.Oslo:Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers,1 June. (Q16)Full Citation

9.

Botswana.2010.‘Marking and Tracing.’ National Report of Botswana on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of Botswana to the United Nations,18 June. (Q4598)Full Citation

10.

World Bank.2007.‘Available Kalashnikov Prices for Specific Countries and Periods.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q3)Full Citation

11.

UNODA.2009.‘PoA-ISS Country Profiles.’ UN small arms Programme of Action (UNPoA) – Implementation Support System.New York:United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs,29 October. (Q1309)Full Citation

12.

Botswana.2010.‘Record Keeping.’ National Report of Botswana on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of Botswana to the United Nations,18 June. (Q4597)Full Citation

13.

African Union / UNODA.2005.‘Windhoek Common Position.’ United Nations Programme of Action Implementation Support System: Regional Organisations.New York:African Union / United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs,14 December. (Q3216)Full Citation

14.

SADC / UNODA.2001.‘Protocol on Control of Firearms, Ammunition and Other Related Materials.’ United Nations Programme of Action Implementation Support System: Regional Organisations.New York:Southern African Development Community Secretariat / United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs,1 August. (Q3217)Full Citation

15.

UNGA.2009.‘Towards an Arms Trade Treaty: Establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms.’ UN Resolution A/RES/64/48.New York:United Nations General Assembly,2 June. (Q1886)Full Citation

16.

UNGA.2001.‘United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition.’ UN General Assembly Resolution 55/255.New York:UN General Assembly,31 May. (Q17)Full Citation

17.

UNGA.2001.‘Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.’ United Nations General Assembly.New York:UN General Assembly,20 July. (Q18)Full Citation

18.

Cattaneo, Silvia and Sarah Parker.2008.‘Reporting, NPCs and NCAs, 2002 to 2008.’ Implementing the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons: Analysis of the National Reports submitted by States from 2002 to 2008.Geneva:United Nations Development Programme,1 November. (Q20)Full Citation

19.

IANSA.2006.‘Reviewing Action on Small Arms 2006: Assessing the first five years of the UN Programme of Action.’ Biting the Bullet 'Red Book' 2006.New York:International Action Network on Small Arms and the Biting the Bullet project,26 June. (Q166)Full Citation

20.

UNODA.2011.‘National Reports on Small Arms Exports.’ United Nations Register of Conventional Arms - The Global Reported Arms Trade.New York:United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs,21 October. (Q14)Full Citation

21.

UN.2009.‘Member States of the United Nations.’ UN.org Web Site.New York:United Nations General Assembly,11 May. (Q290)Full Citation

22.

Wassenaar Arrangement.1996.‘Introduction: Participating States.’ Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies.Vienna:Wassenaar Secretariat,12 July. (Q19)Full Citation