Key developments since May 2003: In March 2004, Landmine Monitor
learned that Cameroon destroyed a total of 9,187 stockpiled antipersonnel mines
in April 2003. Previously the government had reported a stockpile of 500 mines
all retained for training purposes. Cameroon has not submitted required Article
7 reports in 2003 or 2004.
Key developments since 1999: Cameroon ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on
19 September 2002 and became a State Party on 1 March 2003. Before becoming a
State Party, Cameroon submitted a voluntary Article 7 report on 14 March 2001.
Cameroon destroyed 9,187 stockpiled antipersonnel mines in April 2003.
Mine Ban Policy
The Republic of Cameroon signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 3 December 1997.
While domestic procedures for ratification were completed on 28 July 2000, the
ratification instrument was never deposited, and on 23 July 2002 a new
ratification law was adopted and subsequently deposited with the United Nations
on 19 September 2002. Cameroon became a State Party on 1 March 2003. In 2001,
Cameroon reported that national implementation legislation was “in
progress,” but no document has been submitted to the parliament for
consideration.[1]
Cameroon participated fully in the Ottawa Process leading to the Mine Ban
Treaty and it has since attended each annual Meeting of States Parties, as well
as several meetings of the intersessional Standing Committee meetings, including
in February 2004. Cameroon also participated in a regional landmine seminar
held in Mali, in February 2001. The Cameroon Campaign to Ban Landmines,
established in 2000, represented the International Campaign to Ban Landmines
(ICBL) at a Mine Ban Treaty workshop held in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, on
7-8 May 2003.
Cameroon has voted in favor of each annual pro-ban resolution by the United
Nations General Assembly since 1996, except for 1998 when it was absent.
Cameroon submitted a voluntary Article 7 report on 14 March 2001, prior to
ratification of the Mine Ban Treaty. However, since becoming a State Party,
Cameroon has not submitted required Article 7 reports in 2003 or
2004.[2]
Cameroon says it has not produced, exported or used antipersonnel mines and
will not facilitate their transit through its
territory.[3]
Stockpile Destruction
In March 2004, Landmine Monitor received a report from the Cameroon military,
dated 5 May 2003, which stated that Cameroon had destroyed a total of 9,183
antipersonnel mines in April
2003.[4] The report said the
mines were collected from seven different military sectors and destroyed at the
Koutaba firing range on 17 April, while four more antipersonnel mines were
collected from three different military sectors and destroyed the Ngaoundere
firing range on 30 April 2003. According to the report, the technical team in
charge of the destruction inhaled toxic gas after the explosion, due to a lack
of facemasks. It also said 3,154 "inactive" mines have been retained for
training purposes.[5]
In contrast to this information, in February 2004, Cameroon’s delegate
told the Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction that Cameroon had destroyed
its entire stock of 500 live antipersonnel mines in November 2003. He also said
3,154 “exercise mines” were being
kept.[6]
Previously, in 1999, Cameroon said it possessed landmines for training
purposes, but the number and types of mines were
unknown.[7] In its voluntary
Article 7 report submitted in 2001, Cameroon declared a stockpile of 500
antipersonnel mines.[8]
Cameroon has not yet officially informed States Parties about this stockpile
destruction, and whether it constitutes completion of Cameroon’s
obligation under Article 4 to destroy its stockpiled mines within four years.
The Mine Ban Treaty requires Cameroon to destroy its stockpiled mines as soon as
possible, but no later than 1 March 2007.
Mine Action
Cameroon is not mine-affected, but the Army has mine clearance capacity. In
May-June 2003, two soldiers participated in a demining training course held at
the regional mine clearance training center for ECOWAS member states in Ouidah,
Benin.[9] At the Military
Academy in Yaoundé, the Mine Ban Treaty is part of the curriculum and a
classroom has been named after Nitcho Abraham, an Army captain killed by a mine
while serving in a United Nations peacekeeping mission to
Cambodia.[10]
[1] Interview with Richard Etoundi,
Ministry of External Relations, Yaoundé, 15 January 2004; Article 7
Report, Form A, 14 March 2001. [2] The
treaty requires Cameroon to submit an initial report on 27 August 2003, and a
first annual update on 30 April
2004. [3] Statement by Cameroon,
Fourth Meeting of State Parties, Geneva, 19 September
2002. [4] Destruction Report by Lt.
Mbo Denis, Head of Munitions, Inter Army Material Direction, 5 May 2003,
provided to Landmine Monitor by Richard Etoundi, Ministry of External Relations,
8 March 2004. [5]
Ibid. [6] Oral remarks to the Standing
Committee on Stockpile Destruction, Geneva, 12 February 2004 (Landmine
Monitor/HRW notes). See also, Co-Rapporteurs Meeting Report, available at www.gichd.ch
. [7] Landmine Monitor Report 1999, p.
139. [8] Article 7 Report, Form B, 14
March 2001. See also, Landmine Monitor Report 2000, p. 157, which reports that
figure had also been given during the Oslo negotiations in
1997. [9] “Benin Mine Clearance
Training Center,” document provided to Landmine Monitor by Thomas
Adoumasse, Deputy Director, Department of International Organizations, Benin
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, February
2004. [10] Interview with Cdr. David
Jotsa, Senior Training Officer, Military Academy, Yaoundé, 13 March 2003;
Email from Richard Etoundi, Ministry of External Relations, 12 February
2004.