ICCT Situation Report: The Use of Small Arms & Light Weapons by Terrorist Organisations as a Source of Finance in the Middle East and North Africa

This situation report—the first in a wider series of papers exploring the use of small arms and light weapons (SALW) as a source of terrorism financing—will examine the acquisition, possession, and use of SALW by terrorist organisations active in the Middle East and North Africa. It will investigate the extent to which SALW may represent a direct source of funding and/or an enabler to conduct other profit-making activities for these groups. While presenting an overview of the situation and dynamics at work across  each area, the following analysis will eventually aim to identify potential common patterns and/or discrepancies among and within the two regions.

Other reports in the series include:

• ICCT Situation Report: The Use of SALW by Terrorist Organisations as a Source of Finance in West Africa and the Horn of Africa. Read the report here.
   
• ICCT Situation Report: The Use of SALW by Terrorist Organisations as a Source of Finance in South and Southeast Asia. Read the report here.
   
• Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Trafficking, Smuggling, and Use for Criminality by Terrorists and Insurgents: A Brief Historical Overview. Read the report here.
   
• Synthesis Report: The Use of Small Arms and Light Weapons by Terrorist Organisations as a Source of Finance. Read the report here.