Congo, Democratic Republic of
Support for Mine Action
In 2015, five donors contributed US$8.1 million toward mine action in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which represents a decrease of $2.2 million (21%) from 2014.[1]
The largest contributions came from Japan ($2.6 million) and the United States (US) ($2.5 million), together providing more than 60% of the funding.
The DRC also received in-kind assistance from Switzerland valued at CHF412,500 ($427,918) to support clearance operations.[2]
Since March 2014 and the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2147, demining activities are no longer included in the mandate of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), and consequently since July 2014, MONUSCO is no longer providing support to mine action in the DRC through its assessed budget.[3]
The DRC has never reported any contributions to its mine action program, but in its Second Article 5 deadline Extension Request submitted in April 2014, the DRC has committed to providing CDF579,831,000 (approximately $630,000) a year, starting in January 2015.[4]
International contributions: 2015[5]
|
Donor |
Sector |
Amount (national currency) |
Amount ($) |
|
Japan |
Various |
¥317,855,269 |
2,625,818 |
|
US |
Clearance and victim assistance |
$2,500,000 |
2,500,000 |
|
Netherlands |
Clearance and risk education |
€1,280,000 |
1,420,288 |
|
Norway |
Clearance |
NOK9,000,000 |
1,115,504 |
|
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) |
Various |
N/A |
400,000 |
|
Total |
|
|
8,061,610 |
Since 2011, international contributions to mine action activities in the DRC totaled some $59 million and average of $11.8 million per year.
The DRC’s most recent Mine Ban Treaty extension request projected that a budget of $20 million would be required for 2015–2020, of which $19.4 million would go to demining operations, while the remainder would be used for survey and clearance efforts in Aru and Dungu territories.[6]
Summary of international contributions: 2011–2015[7]
|
Year |
International contributions ($) |
|
2015 |
8,061,610 |
|
2014 |
10,262,810 |
|
2013 |
8,722,071 |
|
2012 |
13,213,199 |
|
2011 |
18,772,915 |
|
Total |
59,032,605 |
[1] UNMAS, “Annual Report 2015,” March 2016; Japan, Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 30 April 2016; Netherlands, Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form I, April 2016; emails from Ingrid Schoyen, Senior Advisor, Section for Humanitarian Affairs, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 24 May 2016; and from Katherine Baker, Foreign Affairs Officer, Weapons Removal and Abatement, US Department of State, 12 September 2016.
[2] Switzerland, Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form I, 28 April 2016. Average exchange rate for 2015: CHF0.9628=US$1. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 4 January 2016.
[3] UN Security Council Resolution 2147, 28 March 2014; and UNMAS, “DRC Overview,” undated.
[4] DRC, Mine Ban Treaty Second Article 5 deadline Extension Request, 7 April 2014, p. 52. Average exchange rate for 2014: US$1=CDF923.986, Oanda.com, Historical Exchange Rates.
[5] Average exchange rate for 2014: €1=US$1.1096; ¥121.05=US$1; NOK8.0681=US$1. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 4 January 2016.
[6] DRC, Mine Ban Treaty Second Article 5 deadline Extension Request, 7 April 2014, pp. 51 and 83.
[7] See previous Monitor reports.