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Burundi
Mine Action
Contamination and Impact
Mines
Burundi appears to have a small residual problem of antipersonnel mines, the legacy of more than a decade of internal conflict. In June 2011, Burundi reported that survey by the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) confirmed 11 hazardous areas in two provinces in the northeast of the country. Most of the contamination is from explosive remnants of war (ERW) and affects electricity pylons. Clearance was expected to be completed by October 2011.[1] Major clearance operations involving international NGOs DanChurchAid (DCA) and the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (FSD) were completed in 2008.
In November 2009, Burundi reported that contamination was suspected in four provinces in the northwest of the country: Bubanza, Cibitoke, Muramvya, and Bujumbura Rural.[2] In July–September 2010, MAG worked together with the Humanitarian Department for Mine/Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) Action (Direction de l’Action Humanitaire contre les Mines et Engins non explosés, DAHMI) to jointly conduct non-technical survey (NTS) of a total of 96 suspected hazardous areas (SHAs) in the five provinces of Bubanza, Cibitoke, Kayanza, Makamba, and Muramvya.[3] MAG confirmed mine and UXO contamination in 10 SHAs around the park. The team also investigated five SHAs in Makamba province along the border with Tanzania. In total, the survey confirmed contamination in a total of 12 areas. In one of the confirmed hazardous areas, a mine was cleared immediately by the MAG-Civil Defense mobile team.[4]
MAG has obtained funding from the Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs to support clearance of the remaining contaminated areas. Training of a team from the Civil Defense staff started in March 2011.[5]
MAG’s NTS, however, covered only suspected areas identified by DAHMI around Kibira park and in some entry paths; it did not include the park itself, which is a National Reserve and therefore a protected area. The park, which is not inhabited and is uncultivated, may therefore also contain contamination.[6]
At the Eleventh Meeting of States Parties, Burundi declared that it had completed its Article 5 obligations but subsequently reported at the 2012 intersessional Standing Committee meetings that it still had suspected mined areas to release.
Explosive remnants of war
The precise extent of ERW contamination is not known, although MAG has regularly encountered ERW.[7] Burundi has previously indicated that an ERW threat might exist within the Kibira and Rukoko national parks.[8] Burundi is not believed to be affected by cluster munition remnants.[9]
Mine Action Program
Key institutions and operators
|
Body |
Situation on 1 January 2012 |
|
National Mine Action Authority |
General Directorate for Civil Protection |
|
Mine action center |
DAHMI |
|
International demining operators |
MAG |
|
National demining operators |
Armed forces; and Civil Protection demining team |
Mine action in Burundi is under the authority of the General Directorate for Civil Protection, which is located within the Ministry of Public Security. On 15 May 2009, DAHMI was officially set up under the same ministry, marking the end of active UNDP support. DAHMI is responsible for the coordination of mine action activities.[10]
Land Release
There has been little clearance in Burundi since DCA and FSD closed their programs in 2008, although MAG has been assisting Burundi to fulfill its Article 5 obligations. MAG has been the only international clearance capacity since 2009. In October–November 2010, MAG trained four Civil Protection staff in demining to explosive ordnance disposal level 1 certification.[11]
Survey in 2011–2012
A survey of SHAs around electricity pylons started in October 2012 under MAG authority. As of late November, no antipersonnel mines had been identified.[12]
Mine clearance in 2011
A Civil Protection demining team, with technical support from MAG, destroyed 12 antipersonnel mines between April and November 2011.[13]
Compliance with Article 5 of the Mine Ban Treaty
Under Article 5 of the Mine Ban Treaty, Burundi is required to destroy all antipersonnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control as soon as possible, but not later than 1 April 2014. Burundi has made significant progress in addressing its mine problem since international NGOs initiated clearance operations in 2005, although as of late 2012 a small residual threat appeared to still exist.
[1] Statement of Burundi, Mine Ban Treaty Standing Committee on Mine Action, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 21 June 2011.
[2] Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), “Burundi: Synthese d’informations de l’action contre les mines et les restes explosifs de guerre - dont sous-munitions” (“Burundi: Overview of information on mine action and ERW - including submunitions”), Second African Francophone Seminar on Mine and ERW Action, Dakar, Senegal, 2–4 November 2009.
[3] MAG, “Rapport d’enquête non-technique des zones suspectées d’être contaminées par des mines ou restes explosifs de guerre” (“Report of Non-Technical Survey of Areas Suspected to be Contaminated by Mines or Explosive Remnants of War”), Burundi, July–September 2010, p. 5. One SHA was not accessible during the survey owing to a lack of security: Giserama in Bukinanyana commune in Bubanza province.
[4] Emails from Julie Claveau, Programme Manager, MAG, 22 March and 15 April 2011.
[5] Ibid.
[6] MAG, “Rapport d’enquête non-technique des zones suspectées d’être contaminées par des mines ou restes explosifs de guerre” (“Report of Non-Technical Survey of Areas Suspected to be Contaminated by Mines or Explosive Remnants of War”), Burundi, July–September 2010, p. 5.
[7] Email from Julie Claveau, MAG, 10 February 2010.
[8] See, for example, Statement of Burundi, Ninth Meeting of States Parties, Mine Ban Treaty, Geneva, 27 November 2008.
[9] See, for example, Convention on Cluster Munitions Initial Article 7 Report, undated but 2011.
[10] GICHD, “Burundi: Synthese d’informations de l’action contre les mines et les restes explosifs de guerre (dont sous-munitions)” (“Burundi: Overview of information on mine action and ERW - including submunitions”), Second Seminar of African Francophone Seminar on Mine and ERW Action, Dakar, Senegal, 2–4 November 2009.
[11] MAG, “MAG Burundi Programme Update Oct. & Nov. 2010,” www.maginternational.org.
[12] Email from Nicole Ntagabo, Project Manager, MAG Burundi, 26 November 2012.
[13] Ibid.
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