Notes: EOD = explosive ordnance disposal.

Contamination

In the Republic of Cameroon the extent of mine contamination, reported since 2015, is not known. The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) undertook a monitoring mission in January to April 2017 and reported that in 2016, there were 15 incidents involving “roadside IEDs.” There were six roadside IED incidents in the first three months of 2017.[1] UNMAS did not specify the type of IED, therefore it is not known whether or not these explosive devices meet the definition of an antipersonnel mine, as defined under the Mine Ban Treaty.

In 2017, there continued to be a number of reports of casualties from unspecified mine types. (See Cameroon’s casualty profile for details.) In 2017 and 2018, there were reports of use of antivehicle mines by non-state armed groups. (See Cameroon’s mine ban profile for details.)

A report by a Cameroonian analyst in 2016 claimed that mines had been used extensively around roads, houses, and vehicles, and that “damage caused by these homemade mines is becoming ever more frequent.”[2] Cameroonian military officials reported in 2015 that “huge” numbers of landmines had been planted by Boko Haram along Cameroon’s Nigerian border, posing a threat to civilians, livestock, and soldiers, and reported recurrent use of mines along the road between Kerawa and Kolofata, targeting army vehicles.[3]

There are no legacy minefields in Cameroon, and incidents relating to ERW are reported infrequently.[4]

Program Management

Cameroon does not have a functioning mine action program.

UNMAS reported in April 2017 that Cameroon’s Military Engineer Corps has official responsibility for clearing munitions and that an EOD capacity within the gendarmerie was being created to address the mine threat. A capacity for battle area clearance and EOD spot tasks was also needed, it said.[5]

From March to April 2018, 25 Cameroonian soldiers were trained by the French and United States (US) armies in Level 4 EOD.[6] In June 2017, the US was reported to have donated significant quantities of demining equipment to Cameroon, including metal detectors.[7] In March 2016, it was reported that US military advisors and officers were training Cameroonian soldiers on detection and destruction techniques for mines and other explosive devices.[8] Previously, in 2015, Cameroon was reported to have received demining/EOD training and equipment from the US and Russia, and armored mine-detection vehicles were provided by the US Army Africa Command.[9]

In April 2017, UNMAS confirmed that the military and gendarmerie had benefitted from substantial and ongoing specialized capacity support from international actors, including France and the US, but noted a shortage of equipment, and called for further awareness-raising on explosive devices and EOD training.[10]

Land Release

It is not known to what extent mine clearance or EOD has been undertaken in affected areas.

Article 5 Compliance

Cameroon is a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty. Its Article 5 deadline to destroy all antipersonnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control expired on 1 March 2013.

Under the treaty’s agreed framework, Cameroon should immediately inform all States Parties of any newly discovered antipersonnel mines following the expiry of its Article 5 deadline and ensure their destruction as soon as possible. If necessary, it should also submit a request for a new Article 5 deadline, which should be as short as possible and not more than 10 years.

Cameroon has not submitted an Article 7 transparency report concerning the newly laid contamination. Its last Article 7 report was submitted in 2009. Cameroon must fulfil its reporting obligations under the convention, including on the location of any suspected or confirmed mined areas under its jurisdiction or control and on the status of programs for the destruction of all antipersonnel mines within them.

The Monitor acknowledges the contributions of the Mine Action Review (www.mineactionreview.org), which has conducted the primary mine action research in 2018 and shared all its country-level landmine reports (from“Clearing the Mines 2018”) and country-level cluster munition reports (from “Clearing Cluster Munition Remnants 2018”) with the Monitor. The Monitor is responsible for the findings presented online and in its print publications.