Key
developments since May 2000: There continue to be allegations of use of
mines by the MFDC rebels. The number of new mine casualties decreased slightly
to fifty-seven in 2000.
Senegal signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 3 December
1997 and ratified on 24 September 1998. It entered into force for Senegal on 1
March 1999. The first Article 7 transparency report was submitted on 1
September 1999 and covers the period from 1 March to 30 August 1999. A second
report was submitted on 31 January 2001 and covers up to 31 December 2000.
There has been no progress on national implementation legislation since the
establishment of a commission on the issue in August
1999.[1] The internal political
confusion following the electoral change of March 2000 is still given as the
main obstacle, as ratification is given a lower priority than other domestic
policy matters.[2]
Senegal
sent four representatives to the Second Meeting of States Parties to the Mine
Ban Treaty in September 2000. It attended the intersessional Standing Committee
meetings in May 2001, but not in December 2000. Senegal voted in favor of the
November 2000 UN General Assembly resolution supporting the Mine Ban Treaty.
Four representatives from Senegal attended the Bamako Seminar on the
Universalization and Implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty in Africa, held in
Mali on 15-16 February 2001. Senegal chaired the workshop on demining and
population movements and presented its national experience about the
consequences of antipersonnel mine use on the ecosystem and the civilian
population. Senegal also reported on victim assistance in the country during
that workshop.[3]
Senegal
acceded to Amended Protocol II of the Convention on Conventional Weapons on 29
November 1999. It did not attend the Second Annual Meeting of States Parties to
Amended Protocol II in Geneva in December 2000, nor has it submitted the
transparency report required under Article 13 of the Amended Protocol.
Production, Transfer, Stockpiling, Use
Senegalese government officials restated that the
country has never produced, transferred, stockpiled or used antipersonnel
mines.[4] See past Landmine
Monitor reports for allegations regarding use by Senegalese forces in
Guinea-Bissau in 1998.
In the Banjul Declaration of 26 December 1999, the
Senegalese government and the Mouvement des forces democratiques de la Casamance
(MFDC) rebels committed to no use of antipersonnel landmines in the
future.[5] However, there
continue to be allegations of use of antipersonnel and antivehicle mines by MFDC
rebels in Casamance.
There are many recent mine incidents in the region.
For example, an antivehicle mine explosion in Bignona district in December 2000
killed five civilians.[6]
According to government officials, the antivehicle mines were newly laid by the
MFDC rebels,[7] and were allegedly
acquired from Russia.[8] The
Commander of Légion at the Ziguinchor Gendarmerie, Lt. Col. Tabasky
Diouf, said the rebels had laid new mines after attacking some villages.
“This is part of their runaway strategy,” he
said.[9]
One of the MFDC
leaders representing the movement in Gambia acknowledged the use of antivehicle
mines by the rebels. He said that it was a defensive weapon that would be used
as long as the conflict lasts. However, he denied any use of antipersonnel
mines by the MFDC.[10] In the
year 2000, a total of 43 of the 57 mine incidents were caused by antivehicle
mines.[11]
Abbot Diamacoune
Senghor, the historic leader of MFDC, denied that rebels use mines
systematically, but acknowledged that MFDC combatants, in some uncontrolled
circumstances, may have laid
mines.[12] Diamacoune charged
that the Senegalese army might lay landmines in Casamance to discredit the MFDC.
Some people living in Ziguinchor also believe that the Senegalese army lays
mines in Casamance, but there has been no evidence to corroborate these
perceptions.[13] Diamacoune and
others interviewed in Ziguinchor said that mines are also laid by ordinary
people using them for criminal
purposes.[14]
According to
military officials in Dakar, there is a greater chance for controlling mines
today than ever. They contend that the number of landmines laid in the region
will decline because the rebels have lost control of the border with
Guinea-Bissau where they no longer have
support.[15] However, some
believe the dismissal of some of the MFDC high commanders by Diamacoune in
February 2001 opened the door to uncontrolled criminal actions in the
region.[16]
Landmine Problem
Despite a slight decline in the number of new
victims of landmines in Casamance, the suspected presence of landmines continues
to frighten many people in the region. In one way or another, most Casamance
inhabitants, and particularly those living in the southwest, are concerned by
the landmine problem.
Regional agricultural production has decreased
dramatically because of landmines. “The regional service for Agriculture
for the Ziguinchor region estimates that the agricultural activities decreased
80% in the southwest region of Casamance, which was the richest zone of the
region thanks to the diversity of agricultural
activities.”[17] Even if
harvested, it remains extremely difficult to ensure transport of the produce as
few transporters are willing to risk their lives and vehicles on roads suspected
of being mined. Tourism, another key economic activity in Casamance, has
suffered from the presence of mines, especially in the Cap-Skiring area, one of
the most visited sites in Africa.
The most mine-affected area is the region
of Niaguis, Southern Casamance bordering Guinea-Bissau from where mines are
reportedly smuggled into
Senegal[18] and where the MFDC
rebels are still operating. Fifty of the fifty-four mine casualties that
occurred in 2000 happened in this region. Most of the mine explosions occurred
on roads, and were caused by antivehicle mines.
Mine Action Funding
The European Union is willing to support mine
action by the Senegalese government, but is waiting for an official request from
the government. Other donors, such as the Belgian Cooperation, would like to
join the EU in mine action
funding.[19] Despite this donor
interest, the government has not submitted the Army Engineers Demining and
Reconstruction Project for
consideration.[20] The cost of
the project is estimated at 9 billion FCFA (US$12.3
million).[21]
Over the past
years, mine action financial support has reduced. The ICRC and UNICEF, involved
in mine action programs between 1998 and 1999, are no longer key actors in
Casamance. In the past, they assisted Handicap International and local
communities with human and financial support, especially in emergency situations
when the number of victims was at its
peak.[22] According to the ICRC
based in Dakar, its intervention has decreased mainly because other
organizations are taking meaningful action in this
regard.[23] The Handicap
International Program Officer in Casamance would like other actors to
participate in setting up victim assistance programs following the emergency
intervention phase.
Some NGOs and local people have taken actions in
Casamance, such as Handicap International and
KAGAMEN.[24] KAGAMEN was created
by a group of women in 1996 in Casamance and deals with health, education and
assistance to children. It opened a transit center for mine victims, which
received financial support from Handicap International until February
2001.[25] Most humanitarian
initiatives target survivor assistance and mine awareness programs, rather than
mine surveys, assessments, mapping, marking or clearance.
Mine Clearance and Mine Awareness
Military Engineers conduct some military mine
clearance in the western part of Casamance; they cleared three antivehicle mines
respectively on 24, 30, and 31 December 2000. They army also assists in victim
rescue operations after mine
explosions.[26]
Handicap
International is the main actor in mine action in Casamance. Through its PEPAM
program,[27] HI helped create
about 100 “village mine committees,” and trained local actors. To
date 500 people have been trained in mine awareness; 300 were chosen in villages
by their local communities and 200 are teachers, and have been trained to
provide mine awareness to children as a part of the regular school curriculum.
Some 300 more teachers will be trained in the upcoming months, targeting the
southern part of Casamance, between the Casamance River and the border with
Guinea-Bissau, identified as the most mine affected
region.[28]
Landmine Casualties
In November 2000, Handicap International published
the final results of a survey on landmine victims in Casamance, covering the
period from 1988 to 1999,[29]
along with an updated map on mine and UXO victims in Casamance from 1988 to
2000.[30] According to the
report, the number of victims has decreased about 70% between 1988 and 1999 --
from 195 to 59 victims.[31] The
decline in new victims was maintained in 2000 with 57 registered victims. The
reduction in new victims can be linked to the mine awareness campaign carried
out by Handicap International in Zinguinchor
region.[32]
From January to
December 2000, there were a total of fifty-seven victims, of whom sixteen
died.[33] Eleven of the casualties
were due to antipersonnel mines, and three to UXOs. The other forty-three are
reported as being caused by antitank mines.
Five victims were under the age
of 14 and twenty-five over 30. The youngest was
10.[34] More than half of the
victims were male. Although men represent the majority of mine casualties, more
women die as a result of the accident: 31.7% of women victims died compared to
18.8% of male victims.[35] The
reason for this discrepancy is debatable, however, some contend that it may be
due to a lack of immediate health care available to
women.[36]
The figures
available may not reflect the exact reality of the number of victims in the
region because of the influence of the Muslim religion (burials take place as
soon as possible after a death) and the absence of death
registries.[37] NGOs and other
mine victim initiatives in the region are encouraging the local population to
report landmine victims after accidents.
In December 1999 a doctoral
thesis[38] was defended at the
Faculty of Medicine, tackling the medical implications of landmines accidents in
Senegal. The thesis covered the period from January 1993 to January 1999 and
dealt with 31 victims (30 militaries and 1 civilian) treated at the
Hôpital Principal de Dakar (Main Military Dakar Hospital). Among other
findings, the document revealed that among these 30 military victims, 2 were
injured in Guinea-Bissau during the 1998 Senegalese intervention. The figures
also show that the treatment by the main hospital of Dakar has been mostly
provided to military victims injured by mine explosion, apparently at the
expense of the civilian casualties.
Survivor Assistance
Because of a lack of national resources assistance
to mine victims is limited.[39]
As previously mentioned, Handicap International, is the main actor in mine
action in Casamance. Through the PEPAM
program,[40] HI has collected data
on victims, financed KAGAMEN victim transit center in Ziguinchor for two years,
and provided the victims with financial support for income generating
activities.[41]
The
“Centre de Guidance Infantile et Familiale” is an NGO based in
Casamance that provides psychotherapeutic support to war victims, including
landmine survivors. The Center created a radio station called “Voice of
Children,” which broadcasts some specific programs for child war victims.
In January 2001, the Centre de Guidance Infantile et Familiale published a
survey on the psychological impact of the war in Casamance, focusing on
children.[42] The key finding of
the survey was that children are most affected by the conflict to various
degrees. For example, children are underfed because lands are mined and access
to the bush to gather fruits or other natural crops is restricted. Landmines
also reduced the space available to children and slowed down their psychological
development due to the absence of free movement to
play.[43] One of the key
recommendations was to provide effective support to the global mine ban
campaign.
No progress has been made on the implementation of a national law
protecting the disabled in Senegal.
[1] Interview with Col.
Abdoulaye Aziz Ndaw, Director of Study Control and of Legislation, Ministry of
Armed Forces, Dakar, 8 January 2001; for details on the commission, see
Landmine Monitor Report 2000, p. 96.
[2] Interview with Col.
Abdoulaye Aziz Ndaw, Dakar, 8 January 2001.
[3] “Séminaire
sur l’Universalisation et la Mise en Œuvre de la Convention
d’Ottawa en Afrique, rapport général présenté
par le Mali,” §§ 2.3.4. and 2.3.9., Bamako, Mali, 16 February
2001.
[4] Interview with Col.
Abdoulaye Aziz Ndaw, Dakar, 8 January 2001. See also Landmine Monitor Report
2000, p. 97. On the absence of stockpiles please also refer to
“Mouvement des Populations et Déminage,” presentation made by
Abdou Salam Diallo, Chief of UN Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Senegal, Bamako, Mali, 15 February 2001, p. 3.
[5] See Landmine Monitor
Report 2000, p. 98.
[6]
Demba Ndiaye, “Casamance, Salif Sadio neutralisé,” Sud
Quotidien (daily newspaper), 8 January 2001, p. 9.
[7]
Ibid.
[8] Interview with Col.
Ousmane Sarr, Commander and Director of Military Engineering, Dakar, 25 January
2001.
[9] Interview with Lt.
Col. Tabasky Diouf, Commander of Légion at the Ziguinchor Gendarmerie,
Ziguinchor, 11 January 2001; Interview with Col. Ousmane Sarr, Dakar, 12 January
2001.
[10] Interview with
Laurent Diamacoune, MFDC representative in Gambia, Ziguinchor, 11 January 2001.
[11] “Répartition
des victimes d’accidents par mines et engins non explosés de 1988 a
2000 (Partie Ouest de la Casamance),” Handicap International, December
2000.
[12] Interview with
Abbot Augustin Diamacoune Senghor, leader of the MFDC movement, Ziguinchor, 11
January 2001.
[13] Nineteen
out of 50 people randomly interviewed between 9-13 January 2001 said they
believed that landmines were also laid by the Senegalese Army.
[14] Interview with Abbot
Diamacoune Senghor, Ziguinchor, 11 January 2001; fifty randomly interviewed
people, Ziguinchor, from 9-13 January 2001. See also “Mouvement des
Populations et Déminage,” presentation made by Abdou Salam Diallo,
Chief of UN Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Senegal, Bamako, Mali, 15
February 2001, p. 3.
[15]
Interview with Col. Ousmane Sarr, Dakar, 25 January 2001. He said this is due
to the weakening of the Guinea-Bissau rebels after the death of their chief
Ansoumana Mané, killed during by Guinea-Bissau government troops in
December 2000.
[16] Interview
with Col. Abdoulaye Aziz Ndaw, Dakar, 8 January 2001.
[17] “Mouvement des
Populations et Déminage,” Bamako, Mali, 15 February 2001, p.
5.
[18] Interview with Colonel
Ousmane SARR, Commander and Director of Military Engineering, Dakar 12 January
2001.
[19] Interview with
Andrea Nicolaj, Counselor of the EU delegation in Senegal, Dakar, 9 January
2001.
[20] Interview with
Col. Ousmane Sarr, Dakar, 12 January 2001.
[21]
Ibid.
[22] Interview with
Sophie Wyseur-Gaye, Program Coordinator in Casamance, Handicap International,
Ziguinchor, 10 January 2001.
[23] Telephone interview with
Abdou Latif Mbacke, Program Officer, ICRC, Dakar, 8 January 2001.
[24] See Landmine Monitor
Report 2000, p. 101.
[25]
Interview with Sophie Wyseur-Gaye, Ziguinchor, 10 January
2001.
[26] Interview with Col.
Ousmane Sarr, Dakar, 25 January 2001. Details on these AT clearance activities
were not provided to Landmine
Monitor.
[27] Programme
d’Education et de Prévention aux Accidents par Mines et autres
engins de guerre, (training program for the prevention of accidents due to mines
and other weapons of war).
[28] Telephone interview with
Sophie Wyseur-Gaye, Ziguinchor, 2 May 2001.
[29] “Les Victimes de
Mines en Casamance,” Handicap International, November 2000.
[30] “Répartition
des victimes d’accidents par mines et engins non explosés de 1988 a
2000 (Partie Ouest de la Casamance),” Handicap International, December
2000.
[31] “Les Victimes
de Mines en Casamance,” Handicap International, November 2000, p.
22.
[32] “Les Victimes de
Mines en Casamance,” Handicap International, November 2000, pp.
22-23.
[33] Handicap
International database, Ziguinchor. Full details are available from Landmine
Monitor.
[34] Age data on 7
victims was unavailable.
[35]
“Les Victimes de Mines en Casamance,” Handicap International,
November 2000, p. 15.
[36]
“Les Victimes de Mines en Casamance,” Handicap International,
November 2000, pp. 21-22.
[37] “Les Victimes de
Mines en Casamance,” Handicap International, November 2000, p. 21.
[38] Dieme E. G. P. Amaye,“Les lésions des membres inférieurs par explosion de
mines terrestres: Aspects Ethiopathogéniques, Anatomo-cliniques et
thérapeutiques,” Thèse de doctorat en médecine, Ecole
Militaire de Santé, soutenu le 28 décembre 1999.
[39] See also Landmine
Monitor Report 2000, p.
101.
[40] Programme
d’Education et de Prévention aux Accidents par Mines et autres
engins de guerre, (training program for the prevention of accidents due to mines
and other weapons of war).
[41] Telephone interview with
Sophie Wyseur-Gaye, Ziguinchor, 2 May
2001.
[42] Centre de Guidance
Infantile et Familiale, “L’impact psycho affectif de la guerre en
Casamance,” Ziguinchor,
2001.
[43] Centre de Guidance
Infantile et Familiale, “L’impact psycho affectif de la guerre en
Casamance,” Ziguinchor, January 2001. Please also refer to
“Mouvement des Populations et Déminage,” Bamako, Mali, 15
February 2001, p. 4.