Cote d'Ivoire
Mine Ban Policy
The Republic of Côte d’Ivoire signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 3 December 1997 and ratified it on 30 June 2000, becoming a State Party on 1 December 2000. Côte d’Ivoire has not enacted national legal measures to implement the treaty.[1]
As of 28 October 2011, Côte d’Ivoire had not submitted its annual Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 report, which was due 30 April 2011.[2]
Côte d’Ivoire attended the Tenth Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty in Geneva in November–December 2010 and the intersessional Standing Committee meetings in Geneva in June 2011, but did not make any statements.
Côte d’Ivoire has reported that it has never used, produced, or exported antipersonnel mines and has no stockpile, even for training purposes.[3]
Côte d’Ivoire experienced six months of post-election armed conflict between forces loyal to former president Laurent Gbagbo and then-president-elect Alassane Ouattara.[4] Media articles reported allegations of mine use by both Gbagbo’s and Ouattara’s forces. Each side accused the other of use of antipersonnel mines,[5] but the Monitor has found no evidence of any use of antipersonnel mines during the conflict. In an interview with the Monitor, an officer from Côte d’Ivoire’s gendarmerie stated that the allegations of mine use were false, and that what media reports described as landmines were actually plastic packaging caps from containers for P17 rockets.[6]
Côte d’Ivoire is not party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons.
[1] Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report (for the period 1 May 2009 to 30 April 2010), Form A. In its Article 7 reports submitted in 2005 and 2006, Côte d’Ivoire stated, “Legislation for domestication of Land Mine Ban Treaty to follow.” An official stated in March 2006 that a draft bill was being reviewed by the office of the Prime Minister and was expected to be submitted to the National Assembly. In its Article 7 report submitted in 2007, Côte d’Ivoire stated that the status of national implementation legislation had remained unchanged since 2006. See Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report (for the period 9 August 2006 to 30 April 2007), Form A.
[2] Côte d’Ivoire has submitted seven previous reports: in 2010 (undated covers the period from 1 May 2009 to 30 April 2010); July 2009 (for the period from 1 May 2008 to 30 April 2009); 2008 (for the period 1 May 2007 to 30 April 2008); 2007 (an undated cover page, for the period 9 August 2006 to 30 April 2007, indicating that all areas of reporting were unchanged); 25 April 2006; 27 April 2005; and 27 May 2004. Its initial report was three years late.
[3] Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Forms B, D, and E, 27 May 2004; and interview with Capt. Patrick-Alexandre M’Bahia, National Gendarmerie, Abidjan, 22 March 2006.
[4] For more details see Human Rights Watch, “Côte d’Ivoire: Crimes Against Humanity by Gbagbo Forces: As Crisis Deepens, Grave Abuses Committed by Both Sides,” Press release, 15 March 2011, Abidjan, www.hrw.org.
[5] Mine use accusations were found in a pro-Gbagbo’s website: Ivoire Blog, “Les rebelles installent des mines anti-personnelles au Golf” (“The rebels install anti-personnel mines in Golf [The Hotel du Golf]”), 23 January 2011, wwwboehibenoit.ivoire-blog.com; and other accusations in an anti-Gbagbo newspaper: “Crime de guerre: Gbagbo positionne des mines anti personnelles” (“War Crime: Gbagbo positions anti-personnel mines”) Le Mandat, 28 January 2011, news.abidjan.net.
[6] Interview with Capt. Patrick-Alexandre M’Bahi, Gendarmerie, Geneva, 21 June 2011.
Cluster Munition Ban Policy
Commitment to the Convention on Cluster Munitions
|
Convention on Cluster Munitions status |
State Party as of 1 September 2012 |
|
Stockpile destruction |
Identified stockpile, requires assistance for destruction |
|
Participation in Convention on Cluster Munitions meetings |
Attended Second Meeting of States Parties in Lebanon in September 2011 |
|
Key developments |
Ratified on 12 March 2012 |
The Republic of Côte d’Ivoire signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions on 4 December 2008 and ratified on 12 March 2012. The convention will enter into force for Côte d’Ivoire on 1 September 2012.
The status of national implementation measures to enforce the convention is not known.
Côte d’Ivoire’s initial Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 report is due by 28 February 2013.
Côte d’Ivoire’s ratification slowed after contested elections in November 2010 led to conflict. In September 2011, Côte d’Ivoire said the process to ratify the convention would accelerate after the Chamber of Representatives was re-established at the end of 2011.[1] Côte d’Ivoire deposited its instrument of ratification with the United Nations in New York on 12 March 2009.
Côte d’Ivoire participated in several meetings of the Oslo Process that created the Convention on Cluster Munitions, including the formal negotiations in Dublin in May 2008.[2] Côte d’Ivoire attended the convention’s Second Meeting of States Parties in Beirut, Lebanon in September 2011, where it gave an update on its ratification.[3] It did not attend intersessional meetings of the convention in Geneva in April 2012.
Côte d’Ivoire has not yet made its views known on certain important issues related to interpretation and implementation of the convention, including the prohibition on transit, the prohibition on assistance during joint military operations with states not party that may use cluster munitions, the prohibition on foreign stockpiling of cluster munitions, the prohibition on investment in production of cluster munitions, and the retention of cluster munitions and submunitions for training and development purposes.
Côte d’Ivoire is party to the Mine Ban Treaty.
Côte d’Ivoire is not a party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons.
Use, production, and transfer
Côte d’Ivoire has stated that it has never used, produced, or transferred cluster munitions.[4]
Stockpiling and destruction
At the Second Meeting of States Parties in September 2011, Côte d’Ivoire said that air-launched cluster munitions had been discovered at three sites controlled by the armed forces and were awaiting destruction.[5]
Under Article 3 of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, Côte d’Ivoire is required to declare and destroy all stockpiled cluster munitions under its jurisdiction or control as soon as possible, but no later than 1 September 2020.
Côte d’Ivoire informed States Parties in September 2011 that it requires financial and technical support from the international community to destroy its stockpile of cluster munition.[6]
[1] Statement of Côte d’Ivoire, Convention on Cluster Munitions Second Meeting of States Parties, Beirut, 16 September 2011, http://www.clusterconvention.org/files/2011/09/ca_cote_d_ivoire.pdf.
[2] For details on cluster munition policy and practice see Human Rights Watch and Landmine Action, Banning Cluster Munitions: Government Policy and Practice (Ottawa: Mines Action Canada, May 2009), p. 64.
[3] Statement of Côte d’Ivoire, Convention on Cluster Munitions Second Meeting of States Parties, Beirut, 16 September 2011, http://www.clusterconvention.org/files/2011/09/ca_cote_d_ivoire.pdf.
[4] Interview with Patrick-Alexandre M’Bahia, Officer, Ministry of Defense, Geneva, 23 June 2010.
[5] Statement of Côte d’Ivoire, Convention on Cluster Munitions Second Meeting of States Parties, Beirut, 16 September 2011. http://www.clusterconvention.org/files/2011/09/ca_cote_d_ivoire.pdf Translation by the Monitor.
[6] Ibid.
Mine Action
Contamination and Impact
Mines
Côte d’Ivoire is not known to be contaminated with mines. Allegations of use of antipersonnel mines were made by both main political factions against each other in January 2011, but it is not known whether these allegations have any basis in fact. Côte d’Ivoire’s latest Article 7 report, dated 28 May 2010, reported no mined areas under its jurisdiction or control containing antipersonnel mines.[1] An assessment mission by HALO Trust in May 2011 found no evidence of antipersonnel mines.[2]
Cluster munition remnants
Côte d’Ivoire is no longer believed to be contaminated with cluster munition remnants. It was initially listed as such after its statement in June 2011 that it was contaminated.[3] It appears, however, that this reference was to stockpiles held by the government and not to abandoned stockpiles; this is considered a stockpile destruction obligation in accordance with Article 3 of the Convention on Cluster Munitions.
Other explosive remnants of war
Côte d’Ivoire is newly contaminated with explosive remnants of war, especially following combat in late March 2011.[4] The extent of the contamination is, however, said to be limited.[5]
In addition, on 29 September 2008, an ammunition storage area belonging to the Armed Forces of the New Forces exploded near the commercial center in Bouaké, injuring seven soldiers. It is not known whether this created an unexploded ordnance problem in the vicinity.
Compliance with Article 5 of the Mine Ban Treaty
Under Article 5 of the Mine Ban Treaty, Côte d’Ivoire was required to destroy all antipersonnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control as soon as possible, but not later than 1 December 2010. Côte d’Ivoire has never declared a problem with antipersonnel mines and did not request an extension to its Article 5 deadline.
[1] Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form C, 28 May 2010.
[2] HALO Trust, “HALO assessment mission to Ivory Coast,” Press release, 1 July 2011, http://www.halotrust.org/media/news/halo_assessment_ivory_coast.aspx.
[3] Statement of Côte d’Ivoire, Convention on Cluster Munitions intersessional meetings, Session on Other Implementation Measures, Geneva, 30 June 2011.
[4] See, for example, “Ivory Coast: Pro-Ouattara forces ‘to seal border,’” BBC News online, 28 March 2011, www.bbc.co.uk.
[5] Statement of Côte d’Ivoire, Convention on Cluster Munitions intersessional Meeting, Session on Clearance and Risk Reduction, Geneva, 28 June 2011; and HALO Trust, “HALO assessment mission to Ivory Coast,” Press release, 1 July 2011.
Casualties and Victim Assistance
Casualties
No new mine or explosive remnants of war (ERW) casualties were identified in 2011. Despite allegations that mines had been causing casualties among security forces in April 2011,[1] no evidence could be found that mines were used or caused casualties in Cote d’Ivoire in 2011.
In February 2012, six boys were injured by a hand grenade in Yamoussoukro.[2] Previous to that, in 2008, 18 ERW casualties were identified in two incidents.[3]
The Monitor identified a total of 23 ERW casualties in Cote d’Ivoire from 1999 to 2011, including nine people killed and 14 injured.[4]
[1] “'Don't kill me!', Laurent Gbagbo shouted at capture in Ivory Coast,”News.com.au, 12 April 2011, news.com.au (accessed on 4 April 2012).
"[2] “Yamoussoukro Une grenade explose en plein jeu d’enfants. 6 blessés dont 3 cas graves,” L’Inter, 9 February 2012, linter-ci.com accessed on 4 April 2012.
[3] “14 enfants victimes d'explosion à Bondoukou: Le soutien du gouvernement,” Koffi.net, 12 February 2008, koffi.net accessed on 4 April 2012. ; “Yamoussoukro - Une roquette explose: quatre blessés graves, deux dans le coma,” Koffi.net, 13 May 2008, koffi.net (accessed on 4 April 2012).
[4] See Landmine Monitor Report 2009.
Support for Mine Action
Support for Mine Action
In 2011, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency provided SEK4.5 million (US$746,786) to Côte d’Ivoire through the Voluntary Trust Fund (VTF) of the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) to conduct explosive ordnance disposal operations.[1]
UNMAS also used $638,531 for coordination and $2,055,769 for operations from the UN peacekeeping assessed budget to address an unexploded ordnance problem as a result of an explosion at an ammunition storage facility.[2]
The contributions in 2011 for Côte d’Ivoire totaled $3,441,086.
[1] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Maria Linderyd Linder, Deputy Director, Head of Section, Department for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Sweden, 24 April 2012. Sweden Average exchange rate for 2011: SEK6.4878=US$1. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 3 January 2012. UNMAS, “2011 Annual Report,” p. 45.
[2] UNMAS, “2011 Annual Report,” p. 106.