Contaminated by: landmines (heavy contamination)

Mine Ban Treaty Article 5 deadline: 1 April 2017
(On target to meet deadline) 

As of the end of 2015, 15 municipalities in four wilaya (provinces) were affected by antipersonnel mines, though the size of contaminated areas is not reported. By April 2016, clearance had reduced this to two contaminated wilaya, Guelma and Nâama. A total of 12.83km² of mined area was reportedly released during the course of 2015 with the destruction of 55,265 antipersonnel mines.

Contamination

The People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria is affected by antipersonnel mines as a result of World War II, the French colonial occupation, and the insurgency of the 1990s. During Algeria’s struggle for independence, mines were laid by the French along the Challe and Morice lines on the eastern and western borders of the country. Algeria has estimated that more than 10 million mines were laid.[1] Some 80% are blast mines, while most of the remainder are fragmentation mines.[2]

Between 1963 and 1988, some 500km² of mined area was cleared by manual and mechanical means, resulting in destruction of more than 7.8 million antipersonnel mines.[3] A second clearance phase began in November 2004, which continues to this day, resulting in the destruction of more than one million mines from 100km² of mined area by the end of 2015.[4] As of that date, fifteen municipalities in four wilaya remained affected (see table below).[5]

Antipersonnel mine contamination by province as at end 2015[6]

By April 2016, further clearance had reduced the number of contaminated wilaya to two (Guelma and Nâama), and by July 2016, clearance in Nâama was reportedly also complete.[7]

Occasionally, “isolated” antipersonnel mines are also found outside known mined areas. In addition, the north of the country is said to be contaminated by an unknown number of artisanal mines and other explosive items laid by insurgent groups.[8] 

Program Management

The Interministerial Committee on the Implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, set up by presidential decree in 2003, is the governmental focal point for all mine action activities in Algeria.

Operators

All demining in Algeria is carried out manually by the Algerian army.

Land Release

Clearance in 2015 

As in previous years, Algeria has not reported clearly on clearance for 2015. A total of 12.83km² of mined area was reportedly released in the course of 2015 with the destruction of 55,265 antipersonnel mines.[9] A further 79 mines were destroyed in 46 ad hoc clearance operations.[10]

In the west of the country, clearance of Tlemcen wilaya was completed in November 2015. The demining teams were due to be moved to Nâama wilaya, where demining was continuing in three municipalities: Nâama, Aïn Sefra, and Kasdir.[11] In the east of the country, demining in Tebessa wilaya was completed in August 2015, 18 months ahead of schedule, while operations in Souk-Ahras were close to completion by the end of the year. Additional demining was, though, needed in Guelma wilaya.[12]

Progress in 2016

As of early April 2016, demining operations were close to completion according to the Ministry of National Defence, with only a section in Nâama wilaya and, in the east, a section between Oum Tebboul and Tigrine left to release.[13] By July 2016, clearance in Nâama was reportedly complete also.[14] 

Article 5 Compliance

Under Article 5 of the Mine Ban Treaty (and in accordance with the five-year extension granted by States Parties in 2011), Algeria is required to destroy all antipersonnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control as soon as possible, but not later than 1 April 2017.

Algeria’s accelerated clearance in 2015 means it is on track to complete clearance in advance of its deadline.

The Monitor gratefully acknowledges the contributions of the Mine Action Review supported and published by Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), which conducted mine action research in 2016 and shared it with the Monitor. The Monitor is responsible for the findings presented online and in its print publications.