Contamination and Impact

Mines

Niger is contaminated with antivehicle mines, especially in the north in Agadez region, where the army has been fighting a non-state armed group, the Niger Justice Movement (Mouvement des Nigériens pour la Justice, MNJ) and some splinter factions. The extent of contamination has not yet been determined.[1] An incident in February 2009 that cost the lives of six Gambians occurred on the border between Niger and Libya.[2]

Whether Niger is also contaminated by antipersonnel mines remains unclear. In its Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 report for 2008, Niger reported no areas in which antipersonnel mines were known or suspected to be emplaced. It further stated that antipersonnel mines had never been used in Niger.[3] In its previous Article 7 report, covering April 2005 to March 2006, Niger declared eight suspected areas: the plateaus of Djado, Karama, Manguéni, and Tchigai; the Afafi and Air mountain ranges; the Talak plain; and the Emi Fezzan region.[4]

In November 2007, a UNDP rapid assessment of the situation concluded that most of the numerous incidents in 2007 had occurred as a result of antivehicle mines in the Agadez region on the main and secondary roads east of the Air mountain range, and that there was no evidence of use of antipersonnel mines in the current situation.[5] However, analysis by the Monitor of the casualty data included in the report indicated that a number of the incidents—some of which did not inflict any injuries—did not seem consistent with the explosion of an antivehicle mine.

Cluster munition remnants and other explosive remnants of war

The nature and extent of any explosive remnants of war (ERW) contamination in Niger is not known. There is no evidence of any contamination from cluster munition remnants. The Convention on Cluster Munitions entered into force for Niger on 1 August 2010.

Mine Action Program

Key institutions and operators

Mine action in Niger falls under the remit of the National Commission for the Collection and Control of Illicit Weapons (Commission Nationale Pour la Collecte et le Contrôle des Armes Illicites, CNCCAI), which is primarily responsible for dealing with small arms and light weapons. The commission reports directly to the president and one of its functions is to monitor Law 2004–044 on the implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty.[6] A working group on mine action was established in 2008.

The Anti-Mine Action Plan 2009–2013 was presented at a workshop organized on the International Day of Mine Action in 2009. Under the plan, Niger is seeking to develop the CNCCAI’s capacity to coordinate mine action, set up a mine action database, conduct demining, “implement and coordinate a risk education program,” and promote international humanitarian law relating to mines and ERW, among other things. Specific demining objectives include the following:

·         procure demining equipment;

·         conduct training in mine clearance;

·         begin identifying, marking, and, where possible, clearing suspected areas while the conflict is ongoing; and

·         complete clearance operations once the conflict is over.[7]

Niger has reported that demining of major routes began on 3 July 2010, although details were not provided.[8]

Land Release

In March 2011, Niger stated that a total of 120km of routes had been demined and marked with the financial support of UNDP, with the destruction of one antivehicle mine and five ERW.[9] In 2009, only spot clearance of explosive ordnance took place in Niger, in the Agadez region,[10] as in previous years. The extent of clearance and the items destroyed has not been reported.

Survey in 2010

The detail of any formal survey activities in 2010 has not been reported.

Mine clearance in 2009

Clearance using national clearance capacity began in July 2010.[11] Previously it had been hoped that training in humanitarian demining would be conducted by an international demining NGO in 2010.[12]

Compliance with Article 5 of the Mine Ban Treaty

Under Article 5 of the Mine Ban Treaty, Niger was required to destroy all antipersonnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control as soon as possible, but not later than 1 September 2009. Niger did not request an extension to the deadline on the basis that it is not contaminated with antipersonnel mines.

Demining by non-state armed groups

It is not known if the MNJ has conducted any demining. The MNJ and two splinter groups laid down their arms in 2009 following a mediation process led by Libya, though a formal peace accord has not yet been signed. The MNJ’s political leadership attended the Second Meeting of Signatories to Geneva Call’s Deed of Commitment held in June in Geneva 2009, where it reiterated the movement’s policy of not using antipersonnel mines and its readiness to sign the Deed of Commitment.[13]

Other Risk Reduction Measures

An RE project was launched in Agadez in 2010 with the support of HI.[14] Limited RE activities took place in 2009 under the auspices of the CNCCAI.[15] UNICEF has provided limited support for the creation of RE materials.[16]