LM Report 2004

Benin

Key developments since May 2003: In 2003, Benin’s regional mine clearance training center conducted five six-week demining training courses for 80 military from 16 West African countries.

Key developments since 1999: Benin became a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty on 1 March 1999. In 2002, it created a national commission to oversee implementation of the treaty. It has not adopted national legal measures to implement the treaty. On 25 April 2002, it opened a regional demining training center, built with the assistance of France, for ECOWAS member states. In 2003, the center carried out five demining training courses for 80 military from 16 West African countries.

Benin signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 3 December 1997, ratified on 25 September 1998, and became a State Party on 1 March 1999. In March 2002, a decree formally recognized the National Commission in charge of the mine issue, created in 2000.^[1] Benin has reported since early 2002 that national implementation legislation, including penal sanctions for violations of the treaty, is being drafted.^[2]

Benin submitted its most recent annual Article 7 report on 30 April 2004. It has submitted three reports previously.^[3] Benin has voted in favor of each annual pro-mine ban resolution by the United Nations General Assembly since 1996, except for 2002, when it co-sponsored, but was absent from the vote.

An active supporter of the Ottawa Process that led to the Mine Ban Treaty, Benin has attended each annual meeting of States Parties, except in 2000, and has participated in most meetings of the intersesssional Standing Committees, including in February and June 2004. Regionally, Benin has attended landmines seminars held in Burkina Faso (January 2004), Nigeria (October 2001), and Mali (February 2001).

Benin has not engaged in the extensive discussions that States Parties have had on matters of interpretation and implementation related to Articles 1, 2, and 3. Thus, it has not made known its views on the issues of joint military operations with non-States Parties, foreign stockpiling and transit of antipersonnel mines, antivehicle mines with sensitive fuzes or antihandling devices, and the permissible number of mines retained for training.

Benin is a party to the Conventional on Conventional Weapons, but has not joined the CCW’s Amended Protocol II on landmines.

Benin has not produced or stockpiled antipersonnel mines, and it does not have a mine problem on its territory.^[4]

On 25 April 2003, a regional mine clearance training center for ECOWAS member states (CPADD) opened in Ouidah, built with the assistance of France.^[5] In 2003, the center carried out five demining trainings, each for six weeks, for a total of 80 military from 16 West African countries.^[6] France provided €775,000 (US$876,913) for the center n 2003.^[7]

[1] Interview with Pamhile Goutondji, Deputy Director, International Organizations Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Geneva, 28 May 2002.
[2] Email from Bienvenu Houngbedji, Head of Political International Organizations Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and African Integration, 18 May 2004. See also, Landmine Monitor Report 2003, p. 114; Landmine Monitor Report 2002, p. 111; Landmine Monitor Report 2001, p. 56.
[3] Benin submitted its first Article 7 Report on 15 October 1999 (for the period from August-31 December 1999), and updates on 18 October 2000 (for 1 January-31 December 2000), and on 21 January 2002 (for calendar year 2001). All are “nil” reports. Benin did not report on calendar year 2002.
[4] See Article 7 reports. Also, interview with Col. Mathias Adjou-Moumouni, Ministry of National Defense, Cotonou, 28 April 2000.
[5] Interview with Bienvenu Houngbedji, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 13 May 2003.
[6] “Benin Mine Clearance Training Center,” document provided to Landmine Monitor by Thomas Adoumasse, Deputy Director, Department of International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, February 2004. Presentation by Capt. Jean-Denis Dardaillon, at the workshop on Implementation of the Ottawa Treaty in West Africa, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 28-29 January 2004.
[7] Letter from Amb. Gérard Chesnel, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France, 17 February 2004. (The exchange rate was calculated using US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 5 January 2004.) For 2001-2002, France contributed €440,675 and provided two military advisors for the school, see Landmine Monitor Report 2003, p. 114. In August 2001, France provided €259,164, see Landmine Monitor Report 2002, p. 111.