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Niger — 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 Niger is 93,0001

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Rate of Civilian Firearm Possession per 100 Population

The rate of private gun ownership in Niger is 0.72 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, Niger ranked at No. 1391

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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, Niger ranked at No. 1602

Government Guns

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Number of Military Firearms

The defence forces of Niger are reported to have 6,2703 firearms

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Number of Law Enforcement Firearms

Police in Niger are reported to have 18,0354 firearms

ImpactsGun Death and Injury

Number of Homicides (any method)

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

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

2006: 1.005
2005: 0.90
2004: 20.20
2002: 14.20

ProductionGun Industry

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Firearm Manufacture

In Niger, the manufacture of small arms, ammunition and/or their components is permitted only if the maker holds a valid licence6

TransfersGun Trade and Trafficking

Export Control

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Small Arms Exports (US$)

The annual value of small arms and ammunition exports from Niger is reported to be US$2,2487 (2007)

Import Control

In Niger, firearm and ammunition imports are limited by transfer control law 8

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Small Arms Imports (US$)

The annual value of small arms and ammunition imports to Niger is reported to be US$55,6337 (2009)

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Smuggling Guns and Ammunition

Reports suggest that the level of firearm and ammunition smuggling in Niger is moderate9

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

The asking price for an AK-47 pattern assault weapon in Niger is reported to be US$15010

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Regulation of Arms Brokers

In Niger, the activities of arms brokers and transfer intermediaries are specifically regulated by law11

MeasuresGun Regulation

Firearm Law

Guiding gun control legislation in Niger is the Law No. 61 27 of 15 July 1961 on the institution of the Penal Code, the Decree No. 63.074/MI of 23 April governing the conditions for the possession, introduction, transfer and sale of sporting rifles on the territory of the Republic of Niger, the Decree No. 99 417/PCRN of 8 October 1999 on the creation, functions, organisation and functions of a National Commission for the collection and control of illicit arms, and the Law No. 2004 044 of 8 June 2004 on implementation of the Convention banning the use, stockpiling, manufacture and transfer of anti personnel mines and their destruction8

Firearm Regulation Authority

Guns in Niger are regulated by the Home Office8

Firearm Registration

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Civilian Gun Registration

In Niger, the law requires6 that a record of the acquisition, possession and transfer of each privately held firearm be retained in an official register

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State-Owned Firearm Records

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

Storage and Transport of Guns and Ammunition

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Firearm and Ammunition Storage Regulations - Government

Government regulations in Niger include12 written specifications for the lawful safe storage of firearms and ammunition by state entities

Marking and Tracing Guns and Ammunition

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Firearm Marking

In Niger, a unique identifying mark on each firearm is required by law6

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Firearm Tracing

In Niger, state authorities carry out6 recognised arms tracing and tracking procedures

Collection, Amnesty and Destruction Programmes

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Surrendered in Gun Amnesty

In Niger, the number of firearms and/or rounds of ammunition voluntarily surrendered for destruction in recent arms amnesty and collection programmes is reported to be 16613 (1995-06)

MeasuresInternational Controls

Regional Agreements

African Union

In June 2006, as a member of the African Union, Niger 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 200614

Economic Community of West African States

In June 2006, as a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Niger adopted the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, their Ammunition and other Related Materials. This stipulates strict controls on the transfer, manufacture, possession and security of small arms and light weapons15

United Nations Arms Trade Treaty

In 2009, Niger voted to begin16 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 signed17 by Niger

United Nations Small Arms Programme of Action UNPoA

UNPoA Commitment

On 21 July 2001, Niger 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 Aspects18

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UNPoA National Reporting

Under the terms of its 2001 commitment to the United Nations small arms Programme of Action, Niger has submitted one or more national reports19 11 on its implementation of the UNPoA

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UNPoA National Point of Contact

In Niger, a National Point of Contact to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has been designated20 11

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UNPoA National Coordinating Body

In Niger, a National Coordinating Body to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has been designated20

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UNPoA Civil Society Involvement and Support

In National Reports of Niger submitted to the UN, a history of substantive cooperation with civil society in support of UNPoA activities is apparent20 11

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UNPoA International Assistance – Donor

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

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UNPoA International Assistance – Recipient

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

United Nations Small Arms Register

According to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, Niger has not declared1 its small arms exports in one or more annual National Reports on Arms Exports.

United Nations Membership

In the UN List of Member States, Niger has been a Member State of the United Nations since 196021

Wassenaar Arrangement

The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies does not list22 Niger as a Participating State
Last Updated on 9 February 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.

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

4.

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

5.

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

6.

Niger.2010.‘Marking, Registration and Tracing of Firearms (Marquage, Enregistrement et Traçage des Armes).’ National Report of Niger 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 the Republic of Niger to the United Nations,1 January. (Q4695)Full Citation

7.

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

8.

Moreau, Virginie, Cédric Poitevin and Jihan Seniora.2010.‘Comparison of the Main Regulatory Aspects Examined – Niger.’ Arms Transfer Controls: The Example of French-Speaking States in Sub-Saharan Africa.Brussels:Groupe de Recherche et d'Information sur la Paix et la Sécurité (GRIP),1 May. (Q4012)Full Citation

9.

AEFJN.2010.‘Countries that Send Arms to Embargoed Territories.’ Arms Exports and Transfers: From Sub-Saharan Africa to Sub-Saharan Africa.Brussels:Africa Europe Faith and Justice Network (AEFJN),1 December. (Q5101)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.

Niger.2010.‘Management and Securing of Stockpiles (Gestion et Sécurisation des Stocks).’ National Report of Niger 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 the Republic of Niger to the United Nations,1 January. (Q4694)Full Citation

13.

Karp, Aaron.2009.‘Summary of Disarmament Outcomes in 45 DDR Programmes.’ Small Arms Survey 2009: Shadows of War.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,9 July. (Q2941)Full Citation

14.

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

15.

ECOWAS / UNODA.2006.‘Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, their Ammunition and other Related Materials.’ United Nations Programme of Action Implementation Support System: Regional Organisations.New York:Economic Community of West African States Secretariat / United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs,14 June. (Q3219)Full Citation

16.

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

17.

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

18.

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

19.

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

20.

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

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