Summary: Non-signatory Qatar has never commented on its position on joining the convention. However, it has participated as an observer in every meeting of the convention and has condemned the use of cluster munitions in Syria. Qatar abstained from voting on a key United Nations (UN) resolution on the convention in December 2017.

Qatar is not known to have used, produced, or exported cluster munitions. It imported cluster munitions and has a stockpile, but has not provided information on the number and types stockpiled.

Policy

The State of Qatar has not acceded to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

When asked about acceding to the convention, government officials have given the same answer for the past decade:Qatar is studying the convention and the implications of joining it.[1] Qatar has never publicly acknowledged humanitarian concerns raised by cluster munitions or elaborated its position on accession to the convention.

Qatar participated in the Oslo Process that created the Convention on Cluster Munitions and joined in its consensus adoption in Dublin in May 2008. Yet Qatar attended the Signing Conference in Oslo in December 2008 only as an observer and did not sign the convention.[2]

Qatar has participated as an observer in every meeting of the convention. It has never made a statement at these meetings, but its representatives have discussed the government’s position with the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) and Monitor.[3]

In December 2017, Qatar abstained from voting on a UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution that calls on states outside the Convention on Cluster Munitions to “join as soon as possible.”[4]

In 2012, Qatar said it was “appalled” by the Syrian government’s use of “cluster munitions against its own people.”[5] Qatar has voted in favor of UNGA resolutions expressing outrage at the use of cluster munitions in Syria, most recently in December 2017.[6] It has also voted in favor of Human Rights Council (HRC) resolutions condemning the use of cluster munitions in Syria, most recently in March 2018.[7]

Qatar is a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty. It is also party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons.

Use, production, transfer, and stockpiling

Qatar is not known to have produced cluster munitions. In 2011, a Qatari official toldthe Monitorthat Qatar has never used or exported cluster munitions.[8]

Qatar imported cluster munitions and possesses a stockpile. In 2013, a Ministry of Defense representative confirmed that Qatar possesses cluster munitions, but has only used them in training.[9] Qatar has acquired ASTROS II rockets with cluster munition warheads from Brazil.[10]

Other use

From March 2015 until 2017, Qatar participated in a Saudi Arabia-led joint military operation in Yemen against Houthi forces, also known as Ansar Allah, which has used cluster munitions. Qatar has not commented on evidence that the Saudi-led coalition has used cluster munitions in Yemen.

Foreign stockpiling

Qatar’s territory may be the location of United States (US) Armed Forces stocks of cluster munitions according to a US diplomatic cable dated 26 November 2008 and released by Wikileaks in 2011. The cable states, “The U.S. stores cluster munitions in Qatar. Post reports that it is unknown whether Qatar is aware that U.S. cluster munitions are stored there. Post suspects that if Qatar does sign the treaty, the Qataris would want to ensure no cluster munitions are stored there, though to Post’s knowledge this is not something the U.S. has ever discussed with Doha. The U.S. would need to make a direct inquiry to determine if Qatar is going to sign and to discover Qatari intentions. Post anticipates Qatar would request removal of cluster munitions if Qatar signed and were aware of U.S. stocks.”[11]