There is no evidence to suggest that firearms were solely responsible for the increase in the slave trade in Africa. While firearms did play a role in facilitating the capture and control of enslaved individuals, they were just one tool used by European slave traders. Other factors, such as political instability, economic incentives, and demand from the Americas, also contributed to the rise of the slave trade. Therefore, it would be inaccurate to attribute the entire increase in the slave trade to firearms alone.
