Stop Arming Conflict and Start Funding Peace: A Call to Action by Wilson Babangida Agboti, Community Impact Affinity (CIA) Chief Operating Officer
Stop Arming Conflict and Start Funding Peace: A Call to Action In a world fraught with escalating conflicts, it is imperative to question why the global arms trade continues to thrive while efforts to fund peace initiatives lag behind. The irony is stark: nations allocate trillions of dollars annually to weaponry, perpetuating violence and instability, yet the financial and political support for peacebuilding efforts remains woefully insufficient. The Cost of Arming Conflict According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), global military expenditure reached $2.24 trillion in 2023, marking an alarming trend of increased militarization. This surge fuels ongoing conflicts, undermines development, and exacerbates humanitarian crises. Countries in conflict zones bear the brunt of these expenditures, where funds that could have been directed toward education, healthcare, and infrastructure are diverted to sustain warfare. ...