Mali

Last Updated: 02 November 2011

Mine Ban Policy

Mine Ban Policy

The Republic of Mali signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 3 December 1997 and ratified on 2 June 1998, becoming a State Party on 1 March 1999. National implementation measures were adopted in 2000, which include penal sanctions and fines.[1]

Mali has not submitted an updated Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 report, due annually on 30 April, since 2005.[2]

Mali attended the Tenth Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty in Geneva in November–December 2010.

Mali has never produced or exported antipersonnel mines. In 1998, prior to becoming a State Party, Mali destroyed its stockpile of 7,127 antipersonnel mines, together with 5,131 antivehicle mines.[3] Mali reported in 2003 that it retained 600 antipersonnel and 300 antivehicle mines for training purposes.[4] It has not since reported on the number of retained mines or on the use of mines retained.

Mali stated in 2001 that it had never used antipersonnel mines and that there had been no reports of use by government forces or rebels during the Touareg rebellion.[5] 

However, media reports published in June and October 2011 claim that Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) laid an unspecified type of mine in the Wagadou forest in Mali. According to a media report, AQIM posted information confirming the mine laying to a regional news agency on 4 October 2011.[6]  The Monitor has not been able to confirm use of antipersonnel mines in this instance, and as of 1 November 2011, the ICBL had not received any answer to its requests for confirmation of the type of mines used and steps taken to address possible contamination.

Mali is party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons and its Amended Protocol II on landmines.

 



[1] Two legal texts, an ordinance and a decree, prohibit the development, manufacturing, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, offer, import, export, transfer, and use of antipersonnel mines. Breach of the legislation is punishable with a maximum of life imprisonment and a fine of between CFA500,000 and CFA3 million (approximately US$1,150 to $6,900). Ordinance No. 049/P-RM on the Implementation of the Convention, adopted on 27 September 2000; and Decree No. 569/P-RM on the Application of the Ordinance, adopted on 15 November 2000. An interministerial National Commission for a Total Ban on Landmines was established in June 2002 to take responsibility for the mine issue. See Landmine Monitor Report 2002, p. 341.

[2] Mali submitted its initial Article 7 report, due 27 August 1999, on 17 May 2001, and additional reports on 31 July 2003, 15 September 2004, and 8 July 2005.

[3] Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form B, 17 May 2001.

[4] Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form D, 31 July 2003. Mali initially reported in 2001 that it retained 2,000 antipersonnel and 1,000 antivehicle mines for training purposes. In 2003 it reported having consumed 1,400 antipersonnel mines and 700 antivehicle mines during training activities.

[5] Statement of the Ministry of Defense, Seminar on the Universalization and Implementation of the Ottawa Convention in Africa, Bamako, 16 February 2001.

[6] Jemal Oumar, “Al-Qaeda lays landmines in Wagadou Forest,” Magharebia, 13 October 2011, www.magharebia.com.  The article also claims the AQIM, in “an October 4th statement posted on mauripress.info, said it planted the mines to prevent people from ‘approaching mujahideens’ centres’ in the area.” Jemal Oumar and Mohamed Yahya Ould Abdel Wedoud, “La Mauritanie frappe une base d’AQMI” (“Mauritania strikes AQIM base”), Magharebia, 27 June 2011. The article claims that Mauritanian forces, in an operation carried jointly with Mali, encountered mines laid by AQIM in the forest and seized antipersonnel mines.