LM Report 2003

Madagascar

The Republic of Madagascar signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 4 December 1997, ratified on 16 September 1999, and became a State Party on 1 March 2000. As of July 2003, Madagascar had not submitted its annual updated Article 7 report, due 30 April 2003, to the United Nations, although a copy was provided by the government to Landmine Monitor. According to the report, dated 14 May 2003, there has been “progress” on the adoption of national legislation.^[1] Madagascar attended the Fourth Meeting of States Parties in September 2002 and the intersessional Standing Committee meetings in February and May 2003. It voted in favor of UN General Assembly Resolution 57/74 on 22 November 2002, supporting the universalization and implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty. Madagascar reports that it does not possess antipersonnel mines and the Army has a “small” quantity of inert practice mines retained for training and development.^[2] Madagascar is not mine-affected and the head of the Armed Forces told Landmine Monitor in 2003 that landmines were not used during the 2002 crisis.^[3]

[1] Landmine Monitor received the report, which covers the period from 31 January 2002 to 31 January 2003 direct from the government. Fax to Landmine Monitor (Fabiola Ramsamy, Mauritius) from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Madagascar, 19 June 2003. See also Article 7 Report, 20 June 2001 (for the period 31 January 2000-31 January 2001).
[2] Response to Landmine Monitor 2003 questionnaire by Sylvain Razafimandimby, Commander in Chief, Army of Madagascar, 30 April 2003; fax to Landmine Monitor (Fabiola Ramsamy, Mauritius) from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Madagascar, 19 June 2003.
[3] Ibid.