LM Report 2004

The Gambia

Key developments since 1999: The Gambia ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 23 September 2002 and the treaty entered into force for the country on 1 March 2003. Although the Gambia submitted a voluntary Article 7 report in August 2002, it has not submitted its initial transparency report since becoming a State Party, due 27 August 2003.

The Gambia signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 4 December 1997. While it completed domestic ratification of the treaty on 2 November 1999, the instrument of ratification was not deposited until 23 September 2002. The Gambia became a State Party on 1 March 2003. In 2002, the Gambia reported its intent to incorporate the Mine Ban Treaty into its domestic laws.^[1] Officials have stated that such legislation should be in place by the time of the 2004 Nairobi Review Conference.^[2]

The Gambia did not actively participate in the Ottawa Process leading to the Mine Ban Treaty, and it has since attended one annual Meeting of States Parties, in 2002, and a few of the intersessional Standing Committee meetings, most recently in February 2003. Regionally, the Gambia has participated in landmines seminars held in Burkina Faso (January 2004), Nigeria (October 2001), and Mali (February 2001). It voted in favor of annual pro-mine ban United Nations General Assembly resolutions in 1996, 2000, 2002, and 2003, and was absent in other years.

Prior to ratifying the Mine Ban Treaty, the Gambia submitted a voluntary Article 7 transparency report on 28 August 2002, in which it declared that it has never produced or possessed antipersonnel mines.^[3] However, it has not yet submitted its first treaty-required Article 7 report, due by 27 August 2003.

The Mine Ban Treaty is part of the military curriculum.^[4] Gambian Armed Forces have received demining training from Turkey.^[5]

The Gambia is mine-free. No casualties have been reported on Gambian territory, but a Gambian was among eight people killed in a mine explosion in the Senegalese Casamance region in March 2002.^[6] No mine casualties have been reported amongst Gambian peacekeepers abroad.^[7]

[1] Article 7 Report, Form A, 28 August 2002; Landmine Monitor Report 2002, p. 556.
[2] Response to Landmine Monitor Questionnaire by Daisy Caroll, Department of State of Foreign Affairs, 17 May 2004.
[3] Article 7 Report, 28 August 2003.
[4] Response by Department of State of Foreign Affairs, 17 May 2004.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Response to Landmine Monitor Questionnaire by Maj. Peter Singhateh, Acting Director of Training, Gambia Armed Forces, 26 March 2004; “Eight killed in Landmine Explosion,” The Independent, 15 March 2002.
[7] Response by Department of State of Foreign Affairs, 17 May 2004.