LM Report 2003

Tunisia

Key developments since May 2002: Tunisia has destroyed another 13,684 stockpiled antipersonnel mines, and plans to complete destruction in September 2003. In June 2003, an inter-ministerial committee to coordinate implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty was established. MAG and UNMAS conducted assessment missions in December 2002 and January 2003 to examine Tunisia’s mine clearance needs.

Mine Ban Policy

Tunisia signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 4 December 1997, ratified on 9 July 1999, and the treaty entered into force on 1 January 2000. Tunisia believes that existing domestic laws are sufficient to cover any violations of the Mine Ban Treaty.^[1] In June 2003, an inter-ministerial committee to coordinate implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty was established.^[2]

Tunisia participated in the Fourth Meeting of States Parties in September 2002 and the intersessional Standing Committee meetings in February and May 2003. On 22 November 2002, Tunisia voted in favor of UN General Assembly Resolution 57/74, supporting universalization and implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty. Tunisian government representatives stated that Tunisian promoted universalization of the Mine Ban Treaty with a number of different States throughout 2002. In January 2002, Tunisia hosted a regional seminar on treaty universalization, in cooperation with Canada.^[3]

Tunisia submitted its second Article 7 report on 4 October 2002 and its third report on 7 May 2003.^[4]

Tunisia is party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) and its 1980 Protocol II, but has not ratified Amended Protocol II on landmines.

Tunisia has never produced or exported antipersonnel mines, but imported its stockpile from France, the United States, and Yugoslavia. Tunisia reports that it last used antipersonnel mines in February 1980.^[5]

Stockpile Destruction

According to the numbers provided in Tunisia’s first two Article 7 reports, it appears Tunisia had a stockpile of 23,575 antipersonnel mines when it began its destruction process.^[6]

Tunisia decided to retain 5,000 antipersonnel mines for training and research purposes (4,000 PMA-3 mines and 1,000 PROM-1 mines).^[7] This left 18,575 mines to destroy.

Tunisia destroyed its first 1,000 mines on 30 June 1999 (at the time it ratified the Mine Ban Treaty), and another 1,000 on 12 January 2000. Its third destruction event occurred on 5 September 2002, with 5,000 destroyed.^[8] On 12 December 2002, 4,684 M-51 antipersonnel mines were destroyed in the presence of representatives of the local UN coordinator, the Canadian Embassy, and Mines Advisory Group.^[9] Most recently, on 12 June 2003, Tunisia destroyed 4,000 stockpiled antipersonnel mines.^[10]

Tunisia plans to destroy the remainder of the stockpile on 4 September 2003.^[11] Its treaty-mandated deadline to complete stockpile destruction is 1 January 2004.

According to the destruction information above, Tunisia has destroyed 15,684 antipersonnel mines, and has 2,891 left to destroy. However, there is some confusion regarding the number of antipersonnel mines Tunisia has left to destroy. In its May 2003 Article 7 report, Tunisia indicated that (prior to the June 2003 destruction of 4,000 mines) a total of 5,891 mines remained to be destroyed—or 1,000 fewer than expected based on previous reporting.

Landmine Problem

Tunisia is a mine-affected country, but officials state that the mines have little humanitarian impact and mine incidents are rare.^[12] Minefields were emplaced by Tunisia in 1976 and 1980. In addition, explosive remnants of war, including mines, remain in World War II-era battlefields. Areas suspected of containing mines and UXO are located in three areas of the country: Mareth, Matmata and Elhamma regions in the south area of the country; Kasserine and Faiedh regions in the center area of the country; Cap-Bon and the northwest regions in the north area of the country.^[13]

Tunisia has disclosed information about nine minefields containing 3,526 antipersonnel mines and 1,530 antivehicle mines emplaced by its Army in four areas along the Tunisian border with Libya (at Ras Jedir, M’guisem, Bir Zar, and M’chiguig) and a fifth area where the borders of Tunisia, Algeria, and Libya meet (at Borj El-Khadhra).^[14]

Tunisian officials state the nature of the soil in the desert areas causes the emplaced mines to shift locations, reducing the reliability of the records made during the time when the mines were laid.^[15] According to the UN, the minefields are marked and extensively fenced with barbed wire, which is maintained regularly by the Army.^[16]

Mine Action

Tunisia has stated that it does not have any financial or technical problem in meeting its stockpile destruction obligations, but it has requested international assistance for demining.^[17] There is currently no national body to comprehensively address the mine problem in Tunisia. From 9-18 December 2002, the UK-based mine clearance NGO, Mines Advisory Group (MAG), undertook an assessment mission to Tunisia, with support provided by Canada. Another assessment mission by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) visited Tunisia from 20-24 January 2003.

The army is the only body authorized to take any practical actions related to landmines or unexploded ordnance (UXO), but it did not engage in any mine clearance in 2002.^[18] While the Army’s capabilities are adequate for the performance of military clearance and emergency UXO response, the UN believes some technical and procedural adjustments will be necessary before the army can engage in humanitarian demining.^[19] There were no formal mine risk education programs in Tunisia in 2002, but the Army has conducted ad hoc activities in mine-affected areas.^[20]

Landmines Casualties and Survivor Assistance

The last reported mine incident occurred in January 2002 when two shepherds were injured by an antipersonnel mine that exploded in a fire in the Kairouan area.^[21] In March 2002, two children were injured in a UXO explosion. The UNMAS assessment mission in January 2003 reported that there had been four civilian mine casualties registered in the previous two years.^[22] Between 1991 and 1996, Tunisian authorities registered three mine and UXO casualties.^[23] 

Tunisia has a well-developed public health care system, including emergency care and orthopedic services available from hospitals and regional dispensaries.^[24] The Ministry of Disabled Affairs is responsible for the care of all persons with disabilities in Tunisia, including landmine/UXO survivors.^[25]

[1] Tunisia cites Laws 69-33, 96-63, and 70-60. Interview with Mona M’Charek, Disarmament Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Geneva, 14 May 2003; Article 7 Reports, Form A, 4 October 2002 and 7 May 2003.
[2] Telephone interview with Mona M’Charek, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 29 June 2003.
[3] Statement by Ambassador Ali Hachani, Director of International Organizations Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to the Fourth Meeting of States Parties, Geneva, 18 September 2002; statement by Ambassador Noureddine Mejdoub, Permanent Representative of Tunisia to the UN, New York, 9 October 2002.
[4] Article 7 Report, 7 May 2003 (for the period 12 December 2002-15 April 2003); Article 7 Report, 4 October 2002 (for the period 1 July 2000-10 September 2002); Article 7 Report, 9 July 2000 (for the period 1 January 2000-30 June 2000).
[5] Article 7 Report, Form C, 7 May 2003.
[6] Form B of the 4 October 2002 Article 7 report cites a stockpile of 11,575 mines as of 10 September 2002. This does not include the 5,000 retained mines, and reflects the 7,000 mines destroyed in June 1999, January 2000, and 5 September 2002. Form B of the 9 July 2000 Article 7 report cites a stockpile of 17,575 antipersonnel mines for the period 1 January 2000-30 June 2000. This does not include the 5,000 mines retained for training, or, presumably, the 1,000 mines destroyed in June 1999, but does include, presumably, the 1,000 mines destroyed in January 2000.
[7] Article 7 Report, Form D, 9 July 2000.
[8] Intervention by the Tunisian Delegation, Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction, Geneva, 6 February 2003.
[9] Article 7 Report, Form G, 7 May 2003. This was reported as 4,000 destroyed mines in the February 2003 Standing Committee intervention.
[10] Telephone interview with Mona M’Charek, Disarmament Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 29 June 2003.
[11] Intervention by the Tunisian Delegation, Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction, Geneva, 6 February 2003.
[12] Interview with Zied Bouzouita, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tunis, 21 January 2002.
[13] Article 7 Reports, Form C, June 2000, October 2002, and May 2003.
[14] The minefields are: Ras Jedir (1,327 AP mines and 368 AV mines), M’guisem (726 AP mines and 318 AV mines), Bir Zar, (173 AP mines and 81 AV mines), M’chiguig “76” (178 AP mines and 15 AV mines), M’chiguig “80” (315 AP mines), Borj El-Khadhra “76” (132 AP mines and 154 AV mines), Borj El-Khadhra “A” (182 AP mines and 102 AV mines), Borj El-Khadhra “B” (238 AP mines and 238 AV mines) and Borj El-Khadhra “C” (255 AP mines and 254 AV mines). Article 7 Reports, Form C, 4 October 2002 and 7 May 2003.
[15] Intervention by Tunisian Delegation, Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education, and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 5 February 2003.
[16] UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS), “United Nations Assessment Mission on the Problem of Landmines and Unexploded Ordnance in Tunisia,” (Mission d’evaluation des Nations Unies de la Problematique des Mines et Munitions Non Explosees en Tunisie), March 2003, p. 8.
[17] Statement by Ambassador Ali Hachani, Fourth Meeting of States Parties, 18 September 2002.
[18] Interview with Mona M’Charek, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 14 May 2003.
[19] UNMAS, “UN Assessment Mission to Tunisia,” March 2003, p. 10.
[20] Interview with Mona M’Charek, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 14 May 2003.
[21] UNMAS, “UN Assessment Mission to Tunisia,” March 2003, p. 8.
[22] Ibid; Mine Action Support Group, “Newsletter: June 2003,” p. 6.
[23] See Landmine Monitor Report 2002, pp. 497-498.
[24] UNMAS, “UN Assessment Mission to Tunisia,” March 2003, p. 11.
[25] See Landmine Monitor Report 2002, p. 498.