+   *    +     +     
About Us 
The Issues 
Our Research Products 
Order Publications 
Multimedia 
Press Room 
Resources for Monitor Researchers 
ARCHIVES HOME PAGE 
    >
 
Table of Contents
Country Reports
SENEGAL, Landmine Monitor Report 2001
 
>
<Previous | Next>

SENEGAL

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.

Mine Ban Policy

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.

<Previous | Next>

[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.