Algeria
Casualties
Casualties Overview
|
All known casualties by end 2016 |
7,090 mine/explosive remnants of war (ERW) casualties (3,315 killed; 3775 injured) since 1962 |
|
Casualties in 2016 |
7 (2015: 36) |
|
2016 casualties by outcome |
5 killed; 2 injured (2015: 12 killed; 24 injured) |
|
2016 casualties by item type |
7 improvised mines (victim-activated improvised explosive devices, IEDs) |
In 2016, the Monitor identified seven casualties from victim-activated IEDs (improvised mines) in the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, including four civilians and three military personnel.[1] Although it is a significant decrease from 2015, when 36 casualties from improvised mines were identified, it is likely that other incidents went unreported.[2] The lack of a central data collection mechanism and annual casualty rate fluctuations in recent years make it difficult to identify trends.[3] Due to this lack of official data collection, the total number of casualties was likely higher. Casualty data was gathered from media reports.[4]
In 2016, NATO counter-IED monitoring noted of several countries, including Algeria: “There has been little detailed reporting of IEDs found,” and that “…reports of occasional ‘landmine’ incidents may refer to VOIEDs [victim-operated IEDs or improvised landmines] or command initiated IEDs, although again there is insufficient detail to confirm this…”[5]
The total number of mine casualties in Algeria is unknown. As of March 2011, there were 2,325 mine survivors, as well as 439 widows and 739 descendants of victims killed in mine incidents registered with the Ministry of the Mujahidin. [6] In October 2009, it was reported in the media that there had been at least 6,762 mine casualties since 1962 (3,236 killed; 3,526 injured). [7] No information was available on casualties caused by ERW. The total of 7,090 casualties reported by the Monitor represents this figure plus the 328 mine/ERW casualties (79 killed and 249 injured) identified in 2009–2016.
[1] Monitor media monitoring from 1 January to 31 December 2016; and Monitor analysis of data recorded by Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), “ACLED Version 7 (1996 – 2016),” citing Clionadh Raleigh, Andrew Linke, Håvard Hegre, and Joakim Karlsen, “Introducing ACLED-Armed Conflict Location and Event Data,” Journal of Peace Research, Vol. 47, Issue 5, first published 28 September 2010, pp. 651–660.
[2] It remained difficult to determine the explosive type for all incidents in Algeria given the lack of detail in most media reports and the use of the term “mine” for nearly all incidents involving victim-activated explosives. It is likely that some incidents involving what the media refers to as homemade or “traditional” mines may in fact refer to victim-activated IEDs. Monitor media monitoring from 1 January to 31 December 2015.
[3] The Monitor identified 88 casualties in 2014; 78 casualties in 2013; 51 in 2012; 35 in 2011; 33 in 2010; 34 in 2009; 19 in 2008; 78 in 2007; 58 in 2006; and 51 in 2005. See previous Monitor country profiles on Algeria.
[4] Monitor media monitoring from 1 January to 31 December 2016.
[5] Counter Improvised Explosive Devices Centre Of Excellence (C-IED COE), “Threat Networks employing IEDs in North Africa,” June 2016.
[6] Mine Ban Treaty Article 5 deadline Extension Request, 31 March 2011, p. 19.
[7] This figure does not include casualties among Saharawi refugees displaced from Western Sahara to camps in southwestern Algeria (see the profile for Western Sahara). “L’Algérie ambitionne de les éliminer d’ici 2012: Les mines antipersonnel ont fait 3236 Victimes” (“Algeria aims to eliminate them by 2012: Antipersonnel landmines have killed 3236 persons”), Le Soir d’Algérie, 31 October 2009.