LM Report 2003

Republic of Congo

Key developments since May 2002: The Republic of Congo submitted its first Article 7 Report on 12 September 2002 and an annual update on 30 April 2003. It reports a stockpile of 5,090 mines, of which 372 will be retained for training. The Republic of Congo hosted a workshop on the Implementation of the Ottawa Convention and Mine Action in the DRC and in the Republic of Congo, in Brazzaville on 7 and 8 May 2003. Draft implementation legislation is under consideration.

Mine Ban Policy

The Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 4 May 2001, and the treaty entered into force for it on 1 November 2001. Draft implementation legislation, including penal sanctions, has been submitted to the appropriate authorities for consideration.^[1] Another draft law will create a National Committee for the Elimination of Antipersonnel Mines.^[2]

The Republic of Congo participated in the Fourth Meeting of States Parties in Geneva in September 2002 and in the intersessional Standing Committee meetings in February and May 2003. On 22 November 2002, the Republic of Congo voted in favor of UN General Assembly Resolution 57/74 urging universalization and implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty

The Republic of Congo submitted its initial Article 7 Report on 12 September 2002; it was due on 4 May 2002. It provided information through August 2002. The Republic of Congo submitted its first annual update on time on 30 April 2003.^[3] The report contained no new information.

The Republic of Congo participated in the Seminar on the Implementation of Article 7 of the Ottawa Treaty in Central Africa, organized by the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held in Brussels on 12 and 13 November 2002.

With the support of the Canadian Embassy, the Republic of Congo hosted a workshop on the Implementation of the Ottawa Convention and Mine Action in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in the Republic of Congo, in Brazzaville on 7 and 8 May 2003. The objectives of the workshop were to inform representatives of the ministries in charge of the mine issue about treaty obligations and to facilitate the implementation of the treaty in both countries, with the aim of making proposals for cooperation in stockpile destruction and mine clearance.^[4]

Production, Transfer and Stockpiling

The Republic of Congo is not known to have produced or exported antipersonnel mines.^[5] Its initial Article 7 Report declared a stockpile of 5,090 antipersonnel mines of German and Russian origin, of which 372 would be kept for training purposes.^[6]

Some 3,446 mines are stockpiled in Pointe Noire and will be transferred to Brazzaville for destruction.^[7] The destruction is to take place at the rifle ranges of Djiri in Brazzaville and of Mongo Tandou in Kouilou.^[8] Two high ranking officers of the Congolese Army participated in a training on stockpile destruction management in Martigny, Switzerland, from 3 to 7 June 2002.^[9]

Stockpile destruction had initially been scheduled for January 2003.^[10] It was postponed, pending the outcome of the workshop in Brazzaville in May 2003.^[11] In May 2003, a representative of the Republic of Congo stated that it seeks international support for its stockpile destruction.^[12]

Landmine Problem and Mine Action

The Republic of Congo does not have a known landmine problem.^[13] However, the Kabilda region on the border with Angola is suspected to be mined. Some people have given up their agricultural activities because of the fear of mines.^[14]

The mine problem in Cabinda was scheduled for discussion as a cross-border issue between the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola at a meeting of the Tripartite Peace and Security Committee to be held in Brazzaville in July 2003.^[15]

In April 2003, three officers of the Congolese Army participated in the training of the regional mine clearance center for ECOWAS members in Benin and two others in Belgium.^[16]

Landmine Casualties and Survivor Assistance

In 2002, no mine casualties were reported.^[17] During the first three months of 2003, there were five new casualties caused by unexploded ordnance (UXO).^[18] The casualties were treated at the military hospital of Bangui, which is supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).^[19] In 2001, a man and boy were killed and a woman injured in a UXO explosion.^[20]

[1] Article 7 Report, Form A, 12 September 2002; interview with Boniface Lezona, Chief of the Division of General Assembly and Security Council, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brazzaville, 7 May 2003.
[2] Presentation by Col. Léonce Nkabi, Head of the First Battalion of Engineers of the Congolese Armed Forces, at the workshop on the Implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, held in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, 7 May 2003.
[3] The annual update was submitted on 30 April 2003, but as of 13 July was not available on the UN website, see http://disarmament.un.org/MineBan.nsf.
[4] Invitation to the workshop by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and Francophonie and the Canadian Embassy in the Republic of Congo, 9 April 2003.
[5] Article 7 Report, Form E, 12 September 2002; Landmine Monitor Report 2002, p. 193.
[6] Article 7 Report, Form B, 12 September 2002. An undated draft was provided to Landmine Monitor at the intersessional Standing Committee meetings in May 2002. The numbers in the draft varied slightly from the report as submitted to the UN. The official report cites a number of mines stockpiled which is two less than the draft, and 28 less mines retained for training than in the draft. See Landmine Monitor Report 2002, p. 193.
[7] Article 7 Report, Form D, 12 September 2002.
[8] Presentation by Col. Léonce Nkabi, at the Brazzaville workshop on the Implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, 7 May 2003.
[9] Statement by Col. Léonce Nkabi, Fourth Meeting of States Parties, Geneva, September 2002.
[10] Article 7 Report, Form F, 12 September 2002.
[11] Statement of Boniface Lezona, Head of UN Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction, Geneva, 6 February 2003; Article 7 Report, Form F, 12 September 2002.
[12] Statement of by Col. Léonce Nkabi, Standing Committee meeting on Stockpile Destruction, Geneva, 15 May 2003.
[13] Article 7 Report, Form I, 12 September 2002.
[14] Ibid.
[15] Interview with Col. Pierre Mongo, Counselor, Ministry of Security and Police, Brazzaville, 7 May 2003; interview with Col. Léonce Nkabi, Geneva, 15 May 2003.
[16] Interview with Col. Léonce Nkabi, Brazzaville, 7 May 2003.
[17] Presentation by Col. Léonce Nkabi, Brazzaville workshop, 7 May 2003; interview with Maarten Merkelbach, Head of Delegation, ICRC, Brazzaville, 7 May 2003.
[18] Interview with Maarten Merkelbach, Head of Delegation, ICRC, Brazzaville, 7 May 2003.
[19] Presentation by Maarten Merkelbach, Head of Delegation, ICRC, at the Brazzaville workshop, 7 May 2003.
[20] Landmine Monitor Report 2002, p. 194.