It is a question that we have been asked many times. And the truth is that in many rural regions of Ethiopia, the presence of weapons like the Kalashnikov is understood from the economic fragility of the country and the enormous dependence that exists on coffee as the main community support and source of income for thousands of families who live solely from its harvest and processing. Therefore, when producers face the risk that trucks or organised groups try to take their coffee without paying, they are forced to protect their work with the means available.

The Ethiopian economy has seen progress in recent decades, but it remains highly exposed to volatile international prices for agricultural products and limited infrastructure, which makes access to stable markets difficult. The dependence on coffee makes each harvest vital, and any loss represents a direct blow to the survival of the community, which explains why armed protection becomes part of daily life in areas like Guji, where wealth is not measured in money but in bags of coffee ready to be exported.

The presence of Kalashnikovs in Africa has deeper roots and is linked to historical dynamics of civil wars, arms trafficking and political legacies of the Cold War. This massive distribution caused robust and relatively cheap weapons to circulate for decades between countries with limited resources, generating a lasting impact on regional security and on the way in which communities organise to defend their assets in the absence of a strong state.

If you are interested in the topic, the documentary "Darwin's Nightmare" offers a powerful look at these dynamics, showing how the arrival of certain industries and the presence of international trade routes can coexist with the constant flow of weapons and social conflicts. Although it is set in Tanzania, it offers keys to understanding why tools of war end up being integrated into fragile local economies and how global imbalances allow violence and poverty to feed each other.