Contamination and Impact

Mines

The Republic of Tunisia reported completing clearance of all known mined areas by the end of March 2009; notably of nine minefields it laid in 1976 and 1980 in the south and southeast of the country along the border with Libya and at Bordj El Khadhra, where the borders of Tunisia, Algeria, and Libya meet.[1] Tunisia, however, continues to report a residual mine threat from World War II in the south (El Hamma, Mareth, and Matmata regions); the center (Faïedh and Kasserine regions); the north (Cap-Bon); and the northwest (Medjez El Bab) of the country.[2]

Cluster munition remnants and other explosive remnants of war

There is also a significant problem of explosive remnants of war (ERW) remaining from World War II.[3] There is no evidence that ERW include cluster munition remnants. Tunisia’s initial report in accordance with Article 7 of the Convention on Cluster Munitions was due on 28 August 2011, but had not been received by the UN as of 1 August 2012.

Mine Action Program

Key institutions and operators

There is no national body in charge of management, coordination, and planning of mine action in Tunisia, although the National Implementation Committee for the Mine Ban Treaty has been responsible for overseeing the fulfillment of Mine Ban Treaty Article 5 obligations. The army is the only body authorized to undertake activities related to mines or ERW.

Land Release

Tunisia completed clearance of known mined areas in 2009 but has continued to clear ERW. Tunisia has reported that of the 5,750 antipersonnel mines it had recorded as having been laid in 1976 and 1980, it had removed and destroyed 5,667 from a total area of 0.5km² by April 2010.[4] It had also cleared 1,938 antivehicle mines recovered from the minefields, out of a total of 1,958 recorded. It believes that the remaining mines were destroyed by animals.[5]

Compliance with Article 5 of the Mine Ban Treaty

Under Article 5 of the Mine Ban Treaty, Tunisia was required to destroy all antipersonnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control as soon as possible, but not later than 1 January 2010. In May 2009, Tunisia announced at the intersessional Standing Committee meetings that it had successfully completed its Article 5 obligations.[6] At the Second Review Conference in December 2009, Tunisia referred to its achievement as a significant challenge given the relative low level of its resources and the difficulty in identifying mines in soil and moving sand.[7]