LM Report 2001

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CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

Key developments since May 2000: The Central African Republic, a non-signatory, attended the Bamako Seminar on the Universalization and Implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty in Africa, in February 2001, and also attended the Mine Ban Treaty intersessional Standing Committee meetings in Geneva in May 2001. The Central African Republic had never before participated in international diplomatic landmine meetings.

The Central African Republic has not acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty. In January 2001, during a general strike of civil servants complaining about not being paid, an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs remarked that the landmine issue was not currently of interest because, “without salaries for several months, it is inappropriate to speak or to pay any attention to mines which we don’t even have.”^[156]

The Central African Republic did not participate in the Second Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty in September 2000, but in May 2001 attended the intersessional Standing Committee meetings for the first time. It also attended the Bamako Seminar on the Universalization and Implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty in Africa, held in Mali, on 15-16 February 2000; this was the Central African Republic’s first participation in an international landmine meeting.

The Central African Republic was not eligible to vote on United Nations General Assembly Resolution 55/33V, which calls for universalization and full implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty. The Central African Republic is not party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons.

The Central African Republic is reported to have never produced or exported antipersonnel mines. Although officials said it is difficult to control whatever passes across the territory, there is no evidence of mine transit through the territory of the Central African Republic.^[157] It is assumed that the Central African Republic has a stockpile of antipersonnel mines, but no details have been obtained.^[158]

The Central African Republic is not believed to be mine-affected, but since the country neighbors a number of States involved in armed conflict, officials have noted a risk of mines along its borders.^[159] There are no reports of any mine victims in the Central African Republic.

^[156] Confidential interview with official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangui, 23 January 2001.
^[157] Interview with Col. Abel Abrou, Army Chief of Staff, Ministry of National Defense, Veterans and War Victims, Bamako, Mali, 16 February 2001.
^[158] See Landmine Monitor Report 2000, p. 196.
^[159] Interview with Jean Bertin Opondo, First Secretary, Central African Republic Embassy in Cameroon, Yaoundé, 4 January 2001.

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