Key developments
since March 1999: Angolan UNITA rebels and Angolan government troops have
used landmines inside Namibia. The number of mine incidents in Namibia has
increased dramatically since December 1999. Mine clearance operations have
continued and in February 2000 the U.S. completed its training program. Namibia
had not submitted its Article 7 transparency measures report which was due by 27
August 1999.
Mine Ban Treaty
Namibia signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 3 December
1997 and ratified it on 21 September 1998. Although there is no formal national
legislation passed, the treaty has become part of national law under the terms
of a provision in the Namibian Constitution.
Namibia had not submitted its Article 7 transparency measures report which
was due by 27 August 1999. The Namibian Campaign to Ban Landmines has been
unable to establish whether any submission is being prepared and its inquiries
have received no response from either the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the
Ministry of Defense.[1]
The country participated in the First Meeting of States Parties held at
Maputo on 3-7 May 1999 by sending an officer from their Ministry of Defense.
Namibia did not attend any meetings of the intersessional Standing Committees of
Experts. Namibia is not known to have made any statements regarding the Mine
Ban Treaty or a ban more generally in 1999 or 2000. Namibia voted in favor of
UN General Assembly Resolution 54/54 B in support of the Mine Ban Treaty in
December 1999.
Namibia is not party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons nor is it a
member of the Conference on Disarmament.
Production, Transfer, Stockpiling
Namibia denies that it has produced or exported
antipersonnel mines.[2] Lingering
questions regarding PMD-6 mines either assembled or produced in Namibia have not
been resolved.[3]
As reported in Landmine Monitor Report 1999, Namibian officials claim
that all AP mines were destroyed by May 1998, and only a small stockpile has
been retained for training
purposes.[4] At the same time,
there had been reports about a substantial stockpile of AP mines, including
POMZ-2 and PMD-6 AP mines stored at Grootfontein Military Base. In March 1999,
in his annual report to Parliament, the country's Auditor-General, who carried
out an inspection of the controversial ammunition storage at the Grootfontein
Military Base, stated that “there were slack controls over some of the
most dangerous arms and ammunition in the
base.”[5]
Use by Angolan UNITA Rebels
In late 1999 Namibia gave permission for its
territory to be used by Angolan government troops as a base for attacks on UNITA
positions in southeastern
Angola.[6] Angolan government
forces were permitted to use Namibian military bases and other facilities to
store and transfer weapons and ammunition to combat zones in the southeastern
regions of Angola as well as in the northeastern parts of Namibia.
Angola’s UNITA rebels responded to this by conducting military
operations in northern Namibia including laying
landmines.[7]UNITA has
been accused by the Namibian authorities of having planted AT and AP mines in
the Kavango and Caprivi regions of the
country.[8]
According to the police since December 1999 AP mine incidents have increased
by “an alarming
12.01%.”[9] An examination
of the mines in these incidents strongly pointed to UNITA’s
use:[10]
improvised AT mine consisting of a two kilogram block of TNT explosives
connected with South African manufactured military detonating cord to a pressure
release fuze of Bulgarian origin;
Chinese Type 72;
South African Claymore-type mines with a mechanical pull-switch of Bulgarian
origin;
South African R2M2 AP mine. These mines were manufactured in 1978 and were
in an immaculate condition and appeared to have been recently taken out of a
crate. Several others found of 1987 origin, all kept under good storage
conditions. According to Military Intelligence in South Africa these mines were
traced to consignments given to UNITA before majority rule;
TM-57 with a pressure switch of Bulgarian origin attached to South African
manufactured military detonating fuze. This mine was possibly a South African
recycled mine, dating to pre-Namibia independence when it is alleged the South
African Defense Force removed the explosive content of captured Soviet mines,
refilled them with inferior explosives and gave them to UNITA.
In
February 2000 the U.S. Embassy “strongly urged” its citizens to
avoid the “entire northern border of Namibia,” adding that
“UNITA has staged violent cross-border raids and planted
landmines.”[11] In this
period the U.S. Embassy, Volunteer Services Overseas (VSO) and European missions
pulled out their nationals from the Ohangwena region. Telephones in rural areas
of Kavango, including at hospitals were also affected by the use of landmines.
Technicians, fearful of attacks by suspected UNITA rebels and their landmines
refused to service faulty phone lines. Only in April did they resume their work
once the security forces provided
escorts.[12]
On 11 April 2000, suspected UNITA rebels blew up electricity pylons, bringing
the construction industry to a standstill in Caprivi and Kavango. Two women
were injured after stepping on AP mines left by the assailants in the
area.[13] On 29 May 2000 a
landmine exploded in the middle of Ntara Catholic church just after a service
finished. Twenty-six-year-old Renate Nekaro stepped on the AP mine while
leaving church and lost her right foot. Eight others were slightly injured.
This incident brought to sixteen the number of mine victims that week in
Kavango.[14] In the same period
an NGO worker witnessed three landmines put across a road with a tripwire to
ensure that the first car driving in the morning would set off the
mines.[15]
Not all freshly placed mines may have been laid by UNITA rebels. On 19 April
2000, a news report on the local NBC radio quoted Ambrosius Haingura, a regional
counselor, as cautioning that “UNITA rebels should not be blamed for all
the criminal activities in the Kavango
region.”[16] Haingura was
reacting to a landmine incident and attacks on civilians two days previously.
In May several Angolans linked to the Angolan military were put on trial in
Rundu for possessing and using landmines for criminal
gain.[17]
Use by Angolan Government Forces
There have been reports of possession and use of AP
mines inside Namibia by Angolan government troops. Two members of the Angolan
Armed Forces were charged with possession in May 2000. Also in May, two other
members of the Angolan Armed Forces were arrested following a robbery and an AP
mine incident at Ntara village.[19]
Use by Namibian Forces
Landmine Monitor is not aware of any allegations
that Namibian forces have used mines inside Namibian territory. Nor is Landmine
Monitor aware of any allegations of use of mines by Namibian forces in Angola,
during their joint operations against UNITA. In January 2000 the media reported
on a joint operation inside Angola and published pictures of Namibian and
Angolan government soldiers said to have been injured in mine explosions near
UNITA's former bush base at Jamba in southeastern
Angola.[18]
Angolan forces, however, have used mines against UNITA. The ICBL has
expressed concern that a Mine Ban Treaty State Party, such as Namibia, may be
violating the treaty by virtue of participating in a joint military operation
with another nation, such as Angola, that uses antipersonnel mines in that
operation. Under Article 1 of the Mine Ban Treaty, a State Party may not
“under any circumstance...assist, encourage or induce, in any way, anyone
to engage in any activity that is prohibited to a State Party under this
Convention.” Moreover, Namibia could be in violation of the Mine Ban
Treaty if it were to permit Angolan forces to stockpile antipersonnel mines
inside Namibia, or to transit AP mines across Namibian territory, or to use AP
mines on Namibian territory.
Although most of the forces fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo have
been accused of laying landmines, Landmine Monitor is not aware of any
allegations of use by Namibian troops supporting the government forces of
Laurent Kabila. But, it does appear likely that Kabila’s forces have used
antipersonnel mines, and possibly others foreign armies fighting on the side of
the government. (See Landmine Monitor report on DRC). Again, Namibia could be
in violation of the Mine Ban Treaty by virtue of engaging in joint military
operations with any armed force that uses antipersonnel mines.
Namibia should make clear the nature of its support for any foreign forces
that are using antipersonnel mines, and make clear its views with regard to the
legality under the Mine Ban Treaty of its joint military operations with Angola
and the DRC. As a party to the treaty, Namibia should state categorically that
it will not participate in joint operations with any force that uses
antipersonnel mines.
Landmine Problem
An assessment mission from the UNMAS visited the
country toward the end of 1999. UNMAS concluded, “The landmine situation
in Namibia constitutes neither a humanitarian emergency nor a major obstacle for
development.” It stated, “The mine problem in Namibia is finite,
well known and could be solved relatively quickly given the appropriate
resources and co-ordination. Therefore, Namibia could become the first, or one
of the first, mine-affected countries to declare itself mine
free.”[20]
However, as noted above, there is a growing problem in the Kavango and
Caprivi districts due to conflict involving Namibian, Angolan, and UNITA forces.
Mines and UXO are still present in the densely populated Kaokoland, Owambo,
Kavango, and Caprivi Strip districts in the northwestern, northern, and
northeastern regions of the country as a result of twenty-three years of
conflict between Southwest African People’s Organization (SWAPO) and South
African troops.
Although more than 60% of the country’s population inhabits these
areas, only a small fraction could be described as “affected” in
terms of occasional explosions, leading to civilian casualties, as well as
destruction of livestock.
Most of the mined areas are unmarked. This includes the areas where mine
clearance operations were
underway.[21] Nine former
military bases of the South African Defense Force (SADF) were properly marked as
they were protected by antipersonnel mines. However, civilians had since
removed most of fencing around such bases in order to make their own fences at
home. Records, including maps of such minefields, were handed over to the
incoming Namibian government in 1990 by the SADF.
Mine Action Funding
The U.S. began funding a range of mine action
programs in 1995. This included “train-the-trainer” programs for
mine clearance, establishment and operation of a national demining office,
equipment, and mine awareness programs. Total U.S. funding through 1999 was
$8.3 million. This included $1.053 million in fiscal year 1999 (October
1998-September 1999) for mine clearance along the power pylons in the
northwestern parts of the country. An additional $300,000 will be contributed
in fiscal year 2000, and $100,000 more in 2001, for mine clearance along the
power lines.[22] The sole
recipient of this U.S. funding is the Namibian government. The U.S. Defense
Department training program was completed in February 2000.
There is no policy, criteria, strategy, or practice governing the allocation
and use of mine action funds or in-kind contributions. The Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting and the Ministry of Defense are responsible for
receiving funding donated for mine action in the country. There appears to be
cooperation between the two institutions. Whereas the Ministry of Defense is
responsible for mine clearance, the Ministry of Information is responsible for
mine awareness education.
Apart from the U.S. government and the Mine Advisory Group (MAG), a British
NGO, neither the government nor any other organizations or individuals in the
country are known to have made financial and other in-kind contributions to
humanitarian mine action in the country. On 16 June 1999, MAG donated $2,000 to
the NCBL to monitor military mine clearance operations along the 409 power
pylons in the northwestern parts of the country. Namibia does not appear to have
any domestic resources for mine action.
Mine Clearance
Mine clearance operations have been underway in
Namibia since 1989.[23] From
March 1995 to February 2000, the U.S. carried out a
“train-the-trainer” program.
The clearance around nine former military bases conducted between 1995-1998
destroyed 2,383 antipersonnel mines and 1,107
UXO.[24] The clearing of the
berms and minefields around 409 power pylons as part of a second mine clearance
program were declared as “success” by the Ministry of Defense. On
28 October 1999, the State Secretary for Defense informed a conference of the
SADC Mine Action Committee that a total of 3,161 antipersonnel mines and 1,107
UXO have been destroyed since the program began in 1998.[25] Of these, 1,214 were destroyed
from 200 of the 409
pylons.[26]
Namibia has hosted demonstrations and field tests of several demining
technologies. MgM, a German mine clearance NGO, tested its ROTAR sifter in
September 1999. Previously, the U.S. provided prototype machinery called a
“berm processor” to mechanically clear landmines from berms
surrounding 409 electrical pylons.
There are no procedures to ensure that land cleared of mines is transferred
to those who are entitled to it. The prime beneficiaries of mine-cleared land
would be the local communities. In the absence of a demographic survey it is
impossible to quantify the effect of mine clearance in the country. Except in
one case where the former SADF base at Omahenene was converted to be used as
headquarters of a women's development project and offices of the Ministry of
Agriculture, none of the other former bases have been put to specific civilian
use.[27]
Some communities are not satisfied with the mine clearance as mine explosions
do occur even in areas said to have been cleared. At least two mine explosions
have occurred in the Ohangwena and Omusati regions, which were declared
“mine free” in 1998 by the Namibian Defense
Force.[28] An antitank mine
explosion occurred at Onengali Village, in Ohangwena Region in November
1999.[29] Several people were
injured near Etunda in the Omusati Region in January
1999.[30]
Landmine Casualties
The number of mine incidents in Namibia has
increased dramatically since December 1999. According to the police since
December 1999 AP mine incidents have increased by “an alarming
12.01%.”[31]
According to the Namibian police, two soldiers were killed while ten women
and children were injured in thirteen separate mine incidents between 13
December 1999 and 2 March 2000 in the Kavango and Caprivi
regions.[32]
According to the Namibian Red Cross between December 1999 and mid-May 2000
landmines in northern Namibia’s Kavango region have injured eighty-nine
people, including Angolan soldiers and
civilians.[33]
On 10 April 2000, the Explosives Unit of the police released a report
detailing mine incidents in the Kavango and Western Caprivi regions between
January and April 2000. According to the report, twenty-three persons were
injured while three died from such mine incidents during that
period.[34]
On 29 June 2000, the Namibia Campaign to Ban Landmines (NCBL) was informed
by relatives that at least two Namibian soldiers died in the DRC when they
stepped on “friendly” antipersonnel mines of unknown origin
allegedly planted by Zimbabwean soldiers there.
The Office of the Chief Inspector of Explosives records show that from
1989-1999, there were 106 people killed and 254 injured in mine and UXO
explosions.[35] The data shows 87%
of all accidents were due to UXO, not mines.
According to the NDF there was no “single casualty” or injury on
the part of the NDF
deminers.[36]
Victim Assistance
According to Ms. Batseba Katjioungua, Director of
Social Services, Ministry of Health and Social Services, no donor funding was
received to care for the over 2,000 mine victims in the
country.[37] However, the Namibian
Red Cross in June 2000 announced that it, the International Committee of the Red
Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
were conducting an assessment of the needs of
amputees.[38]
The government has not yet adopted any national legislation regarding persons
with disabilities. The Ministry of Lands, Resettlement, and Rehabilitation is
primarily responsible for the coordination on disability matters.
[1] Letter by Phil ya Nangoloh, NCBL
Coordinator addressed to the Minister of Defense, 16 February
2000. [2] Verbal denial (regarding
research and production) by Defense Minister Erkki Nghimtina during a meeting
with the NCBL, 12 January 1999. [3] See
Landmine Monitor Report 1999, pp.
65-66. [4]
Ibid. [5] “No explosives threat,
says Defense,” The Namibian, 9 March
1999. [6] “Angola: New concerns as
fighting rages along southern border", IRIN, 22 December 1999; “Sergeant
killed in UNITA attack,” The Namibian, 22 December 1999; “Civilian
killings spark concern,” The Namibian, 22 December 1999; “Unita 80
percent destroyed, says Angolan army chief,” The Namibian, 21 December
1999; “Angolan fighting spread into Namibia,” The Independent
Online, 20 December 1999. [7]
“Angola’s UNITA Rebels Say They Will Go on Harassing Namibian
Civilians,” Die Republikein (Namibian Newspaper), 4 February 2000,
distributed in English by BBC Worldwide Monitoring, 6 February
2000. [8] Replying letter from the
Inspector General of the Namibian Police addressed to the Director of
Administration of the National Society for Human Rights, 2 March
2000. [9] “Report On Anti-Personnel
Mine Incidents: Kavango Region, January-April 2000,” Chief Inspector of
Explosives, 10 April 2000. [10]
Ibid. [11] U.S. Department of State,
“Namibia - Consular Information Sheet,” 19 May
2000. [12] “Foreign Missions Remove
Workers in North,” Africa News Service, Windhoek, 14 February
2000. [13] The Namibian, 12 April
2000. [14] “Landmine Explodes Inside
RC Church,” Africa News Service, Windhoek, 30 May 2000; “Landmine
Injures 11 People,” IRIN, 29 May
2000. [15] The Namibian, 30 May
2000. [16] A. Maketo, Namibian
Broadcasting Company radio news report, 1900, 19 April
2000. [17] “Angolans Face Terror
Charges,” IRIN, 24 May 2000; journalist Pedro Rosa Mendes obtained similar
accounts from local residents of Angolan government complicity, interview 6 June
2000; Publico, 10 May 2000. [19] For
accounts of use by Angolan troops in an operation in northern Namibia see:
“Namibia: Angolans face terror charge,” IRIN, 24 May 2000;
journalist Pedro Rosa Mendes obtained similar accounts from local residents,
interview, 6 June 2000; Publico (Lisbon), 10 May 2000; National Society for
Human Rights (Namibia) Press Release, “Kavango Atrocities Update I,”
23 May 2000. [18] “Two more FAA
casualties,” The Namibian, 4 February 2000; “Namibia Wary of
Insecurity After 10 Years of Peace,” Pan African News Agency, 25 January
2000; “Namibia: Government reiterates support for Angola,” IRIN, 24
January 2000; “SPFF Clash with UNITA rebels,” New Era, 14-16 January
2000, pp. 1-2. [20] UNMAS, Joint
Assessment Mission Report: Namibia, 6 April 2000, p.
3. [21] “Marking the First
Anniversary of Mine Ban Treaty,” NCBL/NSHR, 28 February 1999; The
Namibian, 2 March 1999. [22] U.S. State
Department, “Congressional Budget Justification, FY 2001,” 15 March
2000; U.S. State Department, “FY 2000 NADR Status,” 5 May 2000;
interview with Ms. Ruby Aspler, Director, American Cultural Center, U.S. Embassy
Windhoek, 15 March 2000. [23] “Mine
Awareness Campaign,” speech by Lt. Col. M K Nashandi, Commander, Engineer
Regiment, Oshikango, 18 September
1998. [24] Defense Minister, Erkki
Nghimtina, “Message on Mine Awareness Campaign,” Information
Campaign on Mines & UXOs, 23 September 1998, p.
2. [25] “Demining in Namibia's north
a great success,” Windhoek Observer, 29 October 1999; “Power
Plus,” The Namibian Online, 13 December 1999; “1,214 Mines
Destroyed from 200 Pylons so Far: Demeaning operation on Good Course,” New
Era, 13-16 December 1999; “Over 1,200 Mines Destroyed in Namibia's
Etosha,” Pan Africa News Agency, 11 December
1999. [26] “Over 1,200 Mines
Destroyed in Namibia's Etosha,” Pan Africa News Agency, 11 December 1999;
“1,214 Mines Destroyed from 200 Pylons so Far: Demining Operation on Good
Course,” New Era, 13-16 December 1999; “Power Plus,” The
Namibian, 13 December 1999. [27]
“Omahenene Receive Close to N$500,000,” New Era, 10-12 March
2000. [28] “Nam edges closer to
being proclaimed landmine-free,” The Namibian, 31 August 1998, p.
5. [29] “Villagers fearful after
mine blast,” The Namibian, 16 November
1999. [30] “5 Injured,” New
Era, 11-14 January 1999 and “Four hurt in explosion,” The Namibian,
11 January 1999, p. 1. [31] “Report
On Anti-Personnel Mine Incidents: Kavango Region, January-April 2000,”
Chief Inspector of Explosives, 10 April
2000. [32] Replying letter from the
Inspector General of the Namibian Police addressed to the Director of
Administration of the National Society for Human Rights, 2 March
2000. [33] The Namibian, 29 June
2000. [34] Chief Inspector of Explosives,
“Report on Anti-Personnel Mine Incidents, Kavango Region,”
January-April 2000. [35] UNMAS, Joint
Assessment Mission: Namibia, 6 April 2000, p. 9. See also, “Demining in
Namibia's north a great success,” Windhoek Observer, 29 October
1999. [36] “1,214 Mines Destroyed
from 200 pylon so far De-mining operation on good course,” New Era, 13-16
December 1999. [37] Interview with Ms.
Batseba Katjiuongua, Director of Social Services, Ministry of Health and Social
Services, 23 February 2000. [38] The
Namibian, 29 June 2000.
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