Contamination and Impact

Overall Mine Action Performance: GOOD AND IMPROVING[1]

Mines

The People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria is affected by antipersonnel mines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) as a result of World War II, the French colonial occupation, and the insurgency of the 1990s. During Algeria’s struggle for independence, mines were laid by the French along the Challe and Morice lines on the eastern and western borders of the country. Algeria has estimated that more than 10 million mines were laid,[2] with a density of more than three mines per square meter in some instances.[3] In 2011, Algeria declared that all suspected minefields located along its southwest border have been cleared; meaning that remaining contamination is located in the northwest and east of the country only.[4]

Algeria conducted a first clearance phase from 1963 to 1988, during which some 500km² of mined areas were cleared by manual and mechanical means, resulting in the destruction of more than 7.8 million antipersonnel mines.[5] A second clearance phase began in November 2004. Algeria has reported that as of end 2013, more than 68.7km² of mined areas were released by manual clearance, resulting in destruction of 897,751 antipersonnel mines, of which 79% were found during planned clearance operations.[6] In April 2014, the Algerian Ministry of Defence announced that more than 75.7km² of mined areas had been released as of 31 March 2014.[7]

In 2009, Algeria reported that two portions of the Challe and Morice mine belts had been preserved as “historical sites” of its national liberation struggle. The two areas were located in Tebessa and Bechar.[8] The mined area in Tebessa was cleared in October 2011 with the disposal of 927 antipersonnel mines (427 were destroyed and the remaining 500 were “neutralized,” meaning the detonator and explosive was removed). In May 2012, technical survey of the second area, in Bechar, found no mines and the area was released.[9]

The precise extent of contamination today is not known, though Algeria reported in June 2011 that confirmed mined areas along the Challe and Morice lines covered more than 13.5km².[10] Algeria reported that, as of the end of 2013, a total of 23 communes with mined areas over a length of 295km remained in the east of the country, down from 25 in 2012: eight in El Tarf, seven in Souk Ahras, three in Guelma, and five in Tebessa.[11] In the west, 10 minefields over a length of 188km remained to be addressed: eight in Tlemcen and two in Nâama.[12]

Occasionally, “isolated” antipersonnel mines are also found outside known mined areas. Between January 2007 and December 2013, 1,079 mines were found in such circumstances.[13] In addition, the north of the country is said to be contaminated by an unknown number of artisanal mines and other explosive items laid by insurgent groups.[14]

The total number of mine survivors in Algeria is unknown. As of November 2013, the Monitor had identified 6,848 mine casualties since 1962 (3,265 killed and 3,583 injured). In April 2014, Algeria noted that no new victims have been reported during the past two years.[15]

Cluster munition remnants and other explosive remnants of war

It is not known to what extent Algeria is contaminated with ERW. It has not reported publicly on its destruction of ERW during demining operations. There is no evidence that Algeria is affected by cluster munition remnants.

Mine Action Program

In 2003, a presidential decree set up the Interministerial Committee on the Implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, which is the governmental focal point for all mine action activities. All demining activities are carried out by the Algerian Army; their clearance capacity is not known.

In 2006, a joint mine action capacity building project was established with the UNDP. The project was initially planned to last three years, but was extended until December 2013.[16] In April 2014, the UNDP Resident Representative in Algeria explained that the project aimed to facilitate implementation of Algeria’s mine action strategy as well as to support national authorities efforts on mine risk education.[17] The outputs and outcomes of this project have not been publicly reported.

Strategic Planning

In 2011, Algeria calculated that six years would be needed to complete clearance of its remaining minefields in accordance with its extended Article 5 deadline of April 2017. It noted, however, that sometimes deminers are called away for urgent demining operations elsewhere in the country, which could impact on the ability to complete clearance in time.[18] It also noted that demining is “particularly challenging” in three mined areas in the northwest of the country: at Moghrar oasis, at Tiout, and at a third mined area close to the town of Ain Sefra.[19]

Algeria’s August 2011 extension request included a detailed work plan for 2012–2017 containing annual milestones against which progress could be compared. By the end of April 2014, Algeria projected that operations would be underway in four wilayas (Nâama, El-Taref, Souk-Ahras, and Tebessa) and would have concluded in Tlemcen. Operations in Guelma would only start in 2015.[20] As of April 2014, clearance was ongoing in Tlemcen, Nâama, Tebessa, Souk-Ahras, and El-Taref.[21]

Land Release

The Algerian Army conducts all land release operations in the country. Algeria reported in its August 2011 extension request that it would only use manual clearance during demining operations because machines were not considered a sufficiently reliable clearance method and could not be used in mountains or on rocky terrain.[22] Algeria reported clearing more than 5.5km² of mined areas in six locations across three provinces in 2013, destroying more than 76,000 antipersonnel mines.

Mined area clearance in 2013[23]

Clearance output in 2013 was a significant increase (more than 67%) on that achieved in 2012, with 3.3km² reported cleared.[24]

Five-year summary of mine clearance[25]

Article 5 Compliance

Under Article 5 of the Mine Ban Treaty and in accordance with the five-year extension granted in 2011, Algeria 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 2017.

In March 2011, Algeria requested a five-year extension to its Article 5 deadline, citing as justifications for its inability to complete clearance on time the delay in initiating clearance operations, the choice of purely manual demining, climatic conditions, and the extent of contamination.[26] In August 2011, a revised extension request was submitted providing a clearer picture of the remaining problem.[27]

In December 2013, Algeria stated that clearance operations were proceeding according to the work plan set out in its extension request.[28] In April 2014, Ministry of Defence officials claimed that the pace of operations makes it likely that clearance would be completed by 2017.[29]

Support for Mine Action

Algeria has systematically funded its mine action program through its own resources, though it has never provided details of expenditure or cost estimates for clearance operations.

Recommendations

Algeria should maintain its demining efforts to meet its 2017 deadline.

Algeria should ensure clear data on both the total mined area remaining to be released as well as the precise quantity of land cleared per region are publicly shared and available.