Morocco

Mine Ban Policy

Last updated: 26 October 2017

Policy

The Kingdom of Morocco has not acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty.

Officials from Morocco have repeatedly stated that the dispute over Western Sahara is the only obstacle preventing Morocco from acceding.[1] At the Mine Ban Treaty intersessional meetings in 2017, Morocco stated it “fully subscribes to the founding principles and humanitarian goals” of the treaty, and has been voluntarily active in its obligations to clear minefields and destroy stockpiles.[2]

On 5 December 2016, Morocco voted in favor of UN General Assembly Resolution 71/34 calling for universalization and full implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, as in previous years.

Morocco regularly submits voluntary Article 7 reports, including in 2017, 2016, and 2015. It submitted its most recent report on 20 March 2017.[3]

Morocco is party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) and its Amended Protocol II on landmines. It submitted its latest annual report required by Article 13 of the protocol in April 2017. Morocco is not party to CCW Protocol V on explosive remnants of war.

Use, stockpiling, production, transfer, and retention

Morocco reiterated at the Meeting of States Parties in 2013 that it has never produced or transferred antipersonnel mines.[4]

Morocco has acknowledged extensive use of mines in the past, most notably at the berms (defensive earthen walls) it built from 1982 to 1987 to secure the northwest corner of Western Sahara. There have been no confirmed instances of mine use since that time.[5]

In May 2009, in response to a Monitor questionnaire, “Does Morocco reserve the right to use antipersonnel mines in the future?” Morocco replied, “Non.”[6] Morocco also stated that it stopped the use and stockpiling of antipersonnel mines in 1987 and that it has never produced antipersonnel mines.[7]

In May 2009, Morocco told States Parties that it still possesses antipersonnel mines that are used for training its army for participation in peacekeeping operations.[8] Its Article 7 report submitted in March 2017 does not provide the number of mines retained.[9]



[1] Interview with Gen. Ben Elias, Royal Moroccan Army, and the two generals heading the second and third military zones, Agadir, 27 October 2008; interview with Nasser Bourita, Director, Department of International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rabat, 29 October 2008; and Permanent Mission of Morocco to the UN, “Response to Questions from the Canadian NGO Mines Action Canada,” 18 May 2009.

[2] Statement of Morocco, Mine Ban Treaty Intersessional Meetings, Geneva, 8–9 June 2017.

[4] Statement of Morocco, Mine Ban Treaty Meeting of States Parties, Geneva, 2 December 2013.

[5] The government of Morocco and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguía el Hamra and Río de Oro (Polisario) have periodically traded accusations of new mine use, but both have denied it. See, Landmine Monitor Report 2009, p. 1,023.

[6] Permanent Mission of Morocco to the UN, “Response to Questions from the Canadian NGO Mines Action Canada,” 18 May 2009.

[7] Ibid. It also stated this in, statement of Morocco, Standing Committee on General Status and Operation, Geneva, 25 May 2009. In July 2006, Morocco told Landmine Monitor that it stopped using antipersonnel mines at the time of the Western Sahara cease-fire in 1991, and that it no longer stockpiled antipersonnel mines, except for training purposes. Response to Monitor questionnaire by Morocco, July 2006.

[8] Statement of Morocco, Standing Committee on General Status and Operation, Geneva, 25 May 2009. Morocco also said it only kept mines for training in 2006 and 2007. Response to Monitor questionnaire by Morocco, July 2006; and statement of Morocco, Addressing the Human Costs of Anti-personnel Landmines and Explosive Remnants of War, Seminar for States of the Maghreb, Tunis, Tunisia, 9–10 September 2007.

[9] Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form C, 20 March 2017.