Key developments since May 2002: Algeria
submitted its initial Article 7 report on 1 May 2003, declaring a stockpile of
165,080 antipersonnel mines. Algeria intends to retain 15,030 mines for
training and research, one of the highest totals for any State Party. Algeria
estimates that more than 3 million mines are planted on its territory. Algeria
accuses “terrorists” of continuing to use improvised mines.
Mine Ban Policy
Algeria signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 3 December
1997, ratified it on 9 October 2001, and the treaty entered into force on 1
April 2002. Algeria has not adopted any new national implementation measures
for the Mine Ban Treaty; it cites law number 97-06 enacted on 21 January 1997 on
war material, arms, and munitions and Executive Order Number 98-96 of 18 March
1998 implementing Law 97-06.[1]
Algeria attended the Fourth Meeting of States Parties in September 2002, as
well as the February and May 2003 intersessional Standing Committee meetings.
At the Fourth Meeting, Algeria called on antipersonnel mine producers to answer
the international community’s call and join the Mine Ban Treaty, and it
saluted NGOs for their role in mine
action.[2] Algeria voted for the
annual pro-banUN General Assembly resolution on 22 November 2002.
Algeria submitted its initial Article 7 transparency measures report on 1 May
2003; the deadline for its submission was 27 September 2002.
At the Fifth Meeting of States Parties in September 2003, Algeria is expected
to be named co-rapporteur of the Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk
Education and Mine Action Technologies.
Production, Transfer, Use
Algeria is not believed to have produced or
exported antipersonnel landmines.
Algeria reports that mines were used before 1962 by the “colonial
army” along its frontiers, and that “terrorist groups”
continue to use mines.[3] The
government maintains that insurgents use homemade mines (improvised explosive
devices), either to protect their retreat, or as traps for government
troops.[4] Landmine Monitor has
received only one specific report of use of antipersonnel mines by insurgents in
this reporting period (since May 2002). In July 2003, two soldiers died after
stepping on landmines near Timgad, in the district of Batna. Authorities blamed
the Groupe Salafiste pour la Predication et le
Combat.[5] The US State
Department reported that during 2002, “In rural areas, terrorists
continued to plant bombs and mines, which often targeted security force
personnel.”[6]
Stockpiles and Mines Retained
Algeria declared that it has 165,080 antipersonnel
mines in stockpile.[7] In its
Article 7 report, Algeria does not indicate the manufacturer of the mines or
provide technical details; it appears that the mines are of Soviet, Yugoslav,
and possibly Chinese origin.
Algeria intends to retain 15,030 mines for permitted purposes under Article 3
of the treaty.[8] This is the
fourth highest number retained by any State Party. Algeria has not reported the
precise intended purposes for which it is retaining the mines, or how the number
was determined.
According to the Article 7 Report, destruction of the remaining stockpile of
150,050 antipersonnel mines will be completed before
2006.[9] Algeria’s
treaty-mandated deadline for completion of stockpile destruction is 1 April
2006.
Algeria is a mine-affected country. Algerian
territory was mined during World War II, during the conflict to end French
colonial occupation, and during the active contemporary insurgency. Algeria
estimates that 3,064,180 million mines are planted in 5,676 hectares and an
unknown number of mines are located in the north of the
country.[11] In its Article 7
Report, Algeria provides a map showing mine-affected areas as of 15 January
2003. Areas mined by the colonial army are named the Morice and Challe lines,
in both the eastern border area with Tunisia and the western border area with
Morocco. In addition, insurgent groups have mined some areas in the north. The
types of mines in the Morice and Challe lines are APID-51 and APMB-51/5, both of
French origin.[12]
The eastern Algerian border area contains 1,223,780 million mines covering
3,036 hectares along the Morice line, which runs 460 kilometers from Annaba to
Negrine through Souk-Ahras, Tebessa, Elma Labiod, and Bir Elater. It also
includes the Challe line from Oum Tboul to Souk Ahras through El-Ayoun, Ain
El-Assel, Taref, and Bouhadjar and extends to the south from El-Kouf to
Negrine.[13]
The western Algerian border area contains 1,840,400 million mines covering
2,640 hectares, again including both Morice and Challe lines, which extend for
700 kilometers from Marsat Ben M’Hidi to Bechar through El-Aricha,
Mechria, Ain Sefra, Djenien Bouregue, and Beni
Ounif.[14]
Mine Action
Algeria has stated that a long-term demining
program is being prepared. Authorities are analyzing available information on
areas mined in the past, in addition to collecting information on areas newly
mined by insurgent groups.[15]
Algeria has stated that a coordination committee will be established to serve as
the focal point for mine
action.[16]
The Algerian Army is responsible for mine clearance. It undertook some
clearance operations after independence, in collaboration with friendly
countries. Algeria has requested financial and technical assistance for future
demining operations.[17]
Landmine Casualties and Survivor Assistance
Algerian officials state that landmines continue to
maim the civilian population in spite of the efforts made by the authorities to
identify and forbid any access to mined
areas.[18] There is no official
or comprehensive mechanism to collect information on landmine casualties in
Algeria.[19] Mine casualties
continue to be reported in sporadic press accounts of incidents. At least three
mine incidents were reported in 2002: in April, five people were killed and five
injured in a mine explosion in Sidi Ali
Bounab;[20] in September, two
soldiers were killed and 22 others injured in separate mine incidents near the
town of Skikda, 510 kilometers east of
Algiers;[21] and in October a
landmine killed five soldiers and injured five others near the town of Theniet
El Abed, east of Algiers.[22]
In July 2003, two soldiers died after stepping on landmines near Timgad, in the
district of Batna.[23]
On 13 May 2002, an Algerian peacekeeper was killed in a landmine incident in
the Democratic Republic of
Congo.[24]
Civilians have free access to government hospitals and medical
centers.[25] The Ministry of
Health provides survivor assistance at the national and local levels. The
social and economic reintegration of mine survivors is part of the government's
general social action program for persons with
disabilities.[26] Handicap
International has supported the establishment of a rehabilitation center in
Algiers and conducts a program for persons with disabilities, but none of the
patients are believed to be mine survivors.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) also has a production
unit at the Ben Aknoun prosthetic and orthotic center. In 2002, the center
produced 77 prostheses, of which 61 were for mine
survivors.[27]
[1] Article 7 Report, Paragraphs 1.1 and 1.2,
1 May 2003. The reporting period is not
specified. [2] Statement by Algeria, to
Fourth Meeting of States Parties, Geneva, 18 September 2002 (notes and
translation by Landmine Monitor
researcher). [3] Article 7 Report,
Paragraph 3, 1 May 2003. [4] Interview
with Col. Hocein Gharabei, Ministry of Defense, Geneva, 15 May 2003; Article 7
Report, Paragraph 3.1, 1 May 2003. [5]
“Terrorists kill six in Batna,” PANA (Algiers), 9 July 2003.
Another reported incident occurred in October 2002, when a landmine killed five
soldiers and injured five others near the town of Theniet El Abed. This was
likely an antivehicle mine. “Algerian militants kill 13 people in second
massacre this month,” Associated Press, 16 October
2002. [6] US Department of State,
“Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2002, Algeria," Online Version,
31 March 2003. [7] Article 7 Report,
Paragraph 2, 1 May 2003. [8] Article 7
Report, Paragraph 4, 1 May 2003. [9]
Article 7 Report, Paragraph 5.1, 1 May
2003. [10] Article 7 Report, Paragraphs 2
and 4, 1 May 2003. [11] Article 7 Report,
Paragraph 3, 1 May 2003. [12]
Ibid. [13]
Ibid. [14]
Ibid. [15] Article 7 Report, Paragraph
5.2, 1 May 2003. [16] Statement to the
Fourth Meeting of States Parties, 18 September 2002; statement by Colonel Hocien
Gharabei to the Standing Committee on General Status and Operation, 16 May 2003.
[17] Statement to the Fourth Meeting of
States Parties, 18 September 2002. [18]
Ibid; statement by Col. Hocien Gharabei, Standing Committee on General Status,
16 May 2003. [19] Interview with Col.
Hocein Gharabei, Ministry of Defense, 15 May
2003. [20] “Cinq islamistes
tués dans une opération militaire en Kabylie” (Five Muslims
killed in a military operation in Kabylie), El Watan (Algerian daily newspaper),
16 April 2002. [21] “Land mines
kill, wound soldiers in eastern Algeria,” Associated Press (Algiers), 16
September 2002. [22] “Algerian
militants kill 13 people in second massacre this month,” Associated Press,
16 October 2002. [23] “Terrorists
kill six in Batna,” PANA (Algiers), 9 July
2003. [24] "UN Peacekeeper killed by
Landmine in the DRC,” Xinhua News Agency, 13 May
2002. [25] Interview with Col. Hocein
Gharabei, Ministry of Defense, 15 May
2003. [26] Statement to the Fourth Meeting
of States Parties, Geneva, 18 September 2002.
[27] ICRC Physical Rehabilitation
Programs, “Annual Report 2002,” Geneva, June 2003.
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