Key developments
since March 1999: Libya abstained on the UNGA vote in support of the Mine
Ban Treaty, but attended the First Meeting of States Parties and several
intersessional meetings.
Mine Ban Policy
Libya has not acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty.
Libya was one of twenty countries to abstain on the vote for UN General Assembly
Resolution 54/54B in support of the Mine Ban Treaty in December 1999. As
explanation, a Libyan representative stated that Libya “opposed the
production, stockpiling, transfer and use of landmines, but viewed the Ottawa
Convention as only a first
step.”[1]
A Libyan delegation attended the First Meeting of States Parties in Maputo in
May 1999 as an observer. Libya said this was a very important meeting which
“marked a new stage in international demining
efforts.”[2] Libya
attended the ban treaty Intersessional Standing Committee of Experts meetings on
General Status of the Convention in January 2000, Mine Clearance in March 2000,
and Stockpile Destruction in May 2000.
Libya argues that the treaty is flawed because it does not require states
that laid mines to clear them, nor that these states provide compensation and
technical assistance for mine clearance and victim assistance. Libya regards
its primary mine problem as dating back to World War II where the former Allied
and Axis forces laid thousands of antipersonnel and antitank mines during
various battles in the deserts of North Africa.
Libya has not signed the 1980 Convention on Conventional Weapons, and is not
a member of the Conference on Disarmament.
Production, Transfer, Stockpiling, Use
Libya is not known to have produced or exported AP
mines. Libya has imported mines from the former Soviet Union, including the
POMZ-2 and the POMZ-2M AP fragmentation
mines.[3] The size and
composition of Libya’s AP mine stockpile is not known.
Libya is believed to have deployed antipersonnel mines during its border
conflict with Egypt in 1977 and also during its border conflict with Chad
between 1977-1987. Libya is also believed to have deployed mines for protection
of strategically and economically important locations within
Libya.[4]
Landmine Problem
Libya suffers from heavy mine and UXO
contamination as a result of the North African campaign of World War II. In
addition to the deserts, there are minefields close to ports and urban areas,
such as the towns of Tubruk and
Benghazi.[5] There are also
mines on the borders with Egypt and Chad, although the exact locations or
numbers of mines is not known. Mines believed to be left over from World War II
hostilities include:[6]
Germany:
Riegalmine 43, Tellermine 35, Tellermine 42 and Tellermine 43 AT mines and
S-Type bounding fragmentation AP mines.
Italy:
B-2 and B-3 AT mines and B-5 AP mine
France:
Model 36 AT mine
United Kingdom:
Mk.5 and Mk.7 AT mines and Mk.2 AP mines
[7] Of this total, the
Libyan government estimates that there are 1.5 to 3 million mines on its
territory. The table below provides partial
details:[8]
Location of mines
Estimated Number
Area (square meters)
Tobruk
8,430
12,240
Al-Mechili to Darna
7,636
15,624
Darna
7,529
26,620
Al-Mechili toAbiar
32,579
60,038
Tmimi
3,907
9,748
Benghazi
9,912
20,751
Benghazi to Ghemines
552
1,104
Agedabia
87,033
91,511
Aggheila
1,743
30,148
Marsa Brega
1,978
3,956
Gialo
336
627
Marada
5,441
3,060
Total
167,076
275,472
Libya appears not to classify all explosive devices deployed on its territory
as mines, which suggests that these figures are estimated totals for mines only
(including antitank). Photographs provided to researchers of mine clearance
work in Libya suggest that the majority of explosive devices removed are
categories of UXO rather than mines (including artillery shells, bombs and
grenades).[9]
Mine Clearance
Mine clearance in Libya is undertaken by the
explosives division of the police force, which also trains local people in
demining techniques. There are also some private companies involved in mine
clearance, whose work is linked to oil, gas, and mineral exploration. It is not
known if any comprehensive records are available as to the number of mines
removed or the area of land cleared in Libya.
Libya has noted that a lack of accurate maps and historical records has made
mine clearance particularly hazardous and
difficult.[10] In 1998, Italy,
largely due to its colonial connection, signed an agreement with Libya to
provide access to Italian historical records, provide technical assistance and
training for Libyan deminers, as well as support for mine casualties (see below
for more details).[11]
Due to Libya’s political isolation from many Western countries, the UK
and Germany have not as yet provided Libya with access to historical records
from the Second World War. The records and maps that do exist are known to be
extremely patchy.[12] With the
recent improvement in diplomatic and political relationships, Libya hopes that
the UK and Germany will provide access to this information as well as offering
technical assistance for mine clearance in the near future.
Mine Awareness, Mine Casualties, and Victim Assistance
The Libyan government has stated that it provides
mine awareness and training programs to warn people of the dangers of mines,
although no further information is
known.[13] It is believed that
these training programs include the training of civilians in mine clearance
techniques.[14]
All mine incidents in Libya must be reported to the
police,[15] but it is doubtful
that accurate records exist for the numbers of mine-related incidents and mine
victims in Libya. Some data on mine victims is collected, although this appears
not to be done on a countrywide basis. For example, in the mine-affected
municipality of Tobruk, the Libyan Historical Studies Center, a state-funded
research institute, maintains detailed case study records of all mine incidents
that have occurred in the area since the
1970s.[16]
Figures regarding mine casualties that are available from various sources
show a fairly wide degree of variance. Figures provided to the UN suggest that
from 1940 to 1975 there were 5,670 mine-related deaths and at least 4,935
mine-related injuries.[17] The
Libyan Police have stated that from 1940 to 1995 there were 6,749 mine-related
deaths and 5,096 injuries.[18] A
statement provided by the Libyan government to the UN General Assembly in
November 1999 cites a figure of 4,000 mine-related
deaths.[19]
Although there are no specific mine-related victim assistance measures, all
injuries are treated by the state and medical care is free. Moreover, Italy has
agreed to provide several types of assistance, including the construction of a
mine injury hospital, cooperation between the Italian Red Cross and the Libyan
Red Crescent, and the treatment of victims in Italy where necessary (including
the provision of artificial limbs for
amputees).[20]
[1] Explanation of vote by Libyan
Representative, UNGA First Committee, UN Press Release GA/DIS/3162, 8 November
1999. [2] Statement by the Libyan
Delegation to the UN General Assembly, Plenary Meeting Agenda Item 35:
Assistance in Mine Action, New York, 18 November
1999. [3] Jane’s Mines and Mine
Clearance, Third Edition 1998-99, Jane’s Information Group, p.
603. [4] See Landmine Monitor Report
1999 for more details on this. [5]
Interviews with Dr. A.H. Ammar, May
2000. [6] The White Book, "Some Examples
of the Damages Caused by the Belligerents of the World War II to the People of
the Jamahiriya," Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. Researchers
wish to thank Dr. A. H. Ammar for this
material. [7] Statement by the Libyan
Delegation to the UN General Assembly, New York, 18 November
1999. [8] “The White Book, Some
Examples of the Damages Caused by the Belligerents of the World War II to the
People of the Jamahiriya,” Socialist People’s Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya. [9] Photographs provided by
Dr. A. H. Ammar. [10] Statement by the
Libyan Delegation to the UN General Assembly; New York, 18 November
1999. [11] This declaration was signed
by the Foreign Ministers of Libya and Italy in Rome on 7 April
1998. [12]See Egypt country report for
more details. [13]Statement by the
Libyan Delegation to the United Nations General Assembly, 18 November
1999. [14] Interviews with Dr. A. H.
Ammar, May 2000. [15]
Ibid. [16]
Ibid. [17]
http://www.un.org/Depts/Landmine/country/libyannar.htm [18]
See Landmine Monitor Report 1999, pp.
900-901. [19] Statement by the Libyan
Delegation to the UN General Assembly, 18 November
1999. [20] Joint Declaration between
Italy and Libya, Rome, 7 April 1998.
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