Summary: Non-signatory Algeria views the convention banning cluster munitions favorably but has not taken any steps to accede to it. Algeria participated in a meeting of the convention for the first time in 2015, where it expressed firm opposition to cluster munitions. It voted in favor of a key United Nations (UN) resolution promoting the convention in December 2017. Algeria is not known to have used, produced, or exported cluster munitions, but it is reported to possess a stockpile.

Policy

The People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria has not yet acceded to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

Algeria regards the international ban on cluster munitions favorably but has not taken any steps to accede to the convention. Algeria last commented on the matter at the convention’s First Review Conference in 2015, when it said the convention “provides a useful international norm to the global regime on disarmament.”[1] It linked the goal of its accession to “ongoing efforts for the stabilization of our neighboring countries.”

Previously, in 2009, an Algerian official told the Monitor that the government conducted a study to consider the convention and the country’s internal situation, its long borders, and the positions of neighboring countries. After reviewing the study, the government concluded that Algeria was not in a position to sign the convention at that time.[2] Algeria has not reviewed its policy on the convention since 2009.

Algeria participated in several meetings of the Oslo Process, but did not attend the Dublin negotiations in May 2008 or the Oslo signing conference in December of that year.[3] At the Vienna conference in December 2007, Algeria described cluster munitions as “evil weapons” requiring urgent action through “a legally binding instrument.”[4]

According to a United States (US) Department of State cable released by Wikileaks in 2011, US officials met with Algeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in February 2008 to urge Algeria not to support the creation of a convention “that would interfere with cooperation efforts aimed at non-state parties.”[5]

Algeria participated as an observer in the convention’s First Review Conference in 2015 and attended an international meeting of the convention in 2010. This marks its only participation to date in work of the convention. Algeria was invited to but did not attend the convention’s Seventh Meeting of States Parties in Geneva in September 2017.

Nonetheless, Algeria voted in favor of a key UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution in December 2017, which urges states outside the Convention on Cluster Munitions to “join as soon as possible.”[6] Algeria voted in favor of the previous UNGA resolution promoting the convention in 2016, after abstaining from the vote on the first one in 2015.[7]

Algeria is a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty. Algeria is also party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW).

Use, production, transfer, and stockpiling

Algeria is not known to have used, produced, or exported cluster munitions.

Algeria has imported cluster munitions and possesses a stockpile. In 2004, Jane’s Information Group reported that KMG-U dispensers that deploy submunitions were in service for aircraft of the Algerian air force.[8] Also according to Jane’s, Algeria possesses Grad 122mm, Uragan 220mm, and Smerch 300mm rockets, but it is not known if these include versions with submunition payloads.[9]