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Cluster Munition Monitor 2012
bomblets. 127 Switzerland has listed the various types of cluster munitions stockpiled by the Swiss Army and all contain
modified M85-type self-destructing submunitions. 128
As of 31 July 2012, Guinea-Bissau was late in submitting its initial Article 7 transparency report, but has stated that
it is conducting an inventory into the numbers, types, and origins of its stockpiled cluster munitions. 129 In September
2011, Côte d’Ivoire stated that an unknown quantity of air-launched cluster munitions have been identified at three sites
controlled by the armed forces, and it requested support from the international community to destroy them. 130
Afghanistan, Honduras, and Mauritania have stated that they destroyed their stockpiles prior to entry into force of the
convention, but no information is available on the number and types of munitions destroyed.
Stockpiles possessed by signatories
A total of 11 signatories are known to have stockpiled cluster munitions, of which four have completed destruction or
have stated they no longer stockpile cluster munitions. Colombia destroyed its stockpile of 72 cluster munitions (31
ARC-32 and 41 CB-250K cluster bombs) containing 10,832 submunitions during 2009. 131 The Central African Republic
stated in September 2011 that it had voluntarily destroyed a “considerable” stockpile of cluster munitions and now has
no stockpiles on its territory. 132 In September 2011, the Republic of Congo declared that it had no stockpiles of cluster
munitions on its territory. 133 Iraq has stated on several occasions that it does not stockpile cluster munitions, most recently
in May 2012. 134
Two signatories with stockpiles have provided information on numbers and/or types of stockpiled cluster munitions. In
2012, Canada reported a stockpile of 12,597 cluster munitions containing 1.1 million explosive submunitions. 135 In April
2012, a government official confirmed that Nigeria has a stockpile of BL-755 cluster bombs. 136
Five signatories have not yet disclosed information on the number and types of stockpiled cluster munitions. A
government official stated in 2010 that Angola had destroyed its stockpile of cluster munitions and the armed forces
no longer held any stocks, but Angola has yet to make an official declaration that all stocks have been identified and
destroyed. 137 South Africa has stated that its “relatively small stockpile of obsolete cluster munitions” has been earmarked
for destruction. 138 Indonesia and Peru have stated that they are undertaking an inventory of their stockpiled cluster
munitions. The status of Guinea’s stockpile and plans for its destruction were not known as of 31 July 2012.
127
Robert Hewson, ed., Jane’s Air-Launched Weapons, Issue 44 (Surrey, UK: Jane’s Information Group Limited, 2004), pp. 360–361. Sweden
has reported that the failure rate of the bomblets is less than 1% and if the submunitions become duds on the ground, they are designed
to self-deactivate after two hours, preventing it from being dangerous. Communication from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, “Brevsvar
klusterammunition” (Letter to answer cluster munitions”), to Pax Christi Netherlands, 14 January 2005.
128
Switzerland stockpiles cluster munitions (projectiles cargos pour l’artillerie à tube) for 155mm M-109 and M-109 Kawest self-propelled
howitzers, 155mm Bison fortress cannons, and 120mm fortress mortars. “Message relatif à l’approbation de la Convention sur les armes
à sous-munitions ainsi qu’à la modification de la loi sur le matériel de guerre,” (Message on the Ratification of the Convention of 30 May
2008 on Cluster Munitions and the Amendment of the Law of 13 December 1996 on War Materials), June 2011, Section 1.5.1. http://www.
parlament.ch/f/suche/pages/geschaefte.aspxgesch_id=20110036.
129
Interview with César Luis Gomes Lopes de Carvalho, General Director, CAAMI, Geneva, 27 June 2011.
130
Statement of Côte d’Ivoire, Convention on Cluster Munitions Second Meeting of States Parties, Beirut, 16 September 2011. http://www.
clusterconvention.org/files/2011/09/ca_cote_d_ivoire.pdf. Translation by the Monitor.
131
Letter from Sonia Matilde Eljach Polo, Director of Multilateral Affairs, Ministry of External Relations, 19 April 2012. Translation by the
Monitor; Response to Monitor questionnaire by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 26 March 2010. The CB-250K bombs were produced by
Chile and each contains 240 submunitions. The ARC-32 bomb is apparently a 350kg weapon containing 32 anti-runway submunitions
produced by Israel.
132
Statement of the Central African Republic, Convention on Cluster Munitions Second Meeting of States Parties, Beirut, 14 September 2011.
http://bit.ly/K79uVk.
133
Statement of Republic of Congo, Convention on Cluster Munitions Second Meeting of States Parties, Beirut, 15 September 2011. http://www.
clusterconvention.org/files/2011/09/cl_congo.pdf. In 2011, clearance personnel destroyed cluster munitions remnants and PTAB-2.5M and
AO-1SCh submunitions from an arms depot that was bombed during the 1997-1998 conflict. Cluster munitions were also apparently part
of weapons stockpiles destroyed in 2008–2010 with the assistance of United Kingdom-based humanitarian demining organization Mines
Advisory Group (MAG). Email from Lt.-Col. André Pampile Serge Oyobe, Head of Information Division, Ministry of Defense, 13 July 2010.
134
Letter from Iraq Ministry of Environment, forwarded by Dr. Abbas K. O. Abbas, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of
Iraq to the UN in Geneva, to Mary Wareham, Human Rights Watch, Ref. 205/2012, 8 May 2012. Translation by the Monitor.
135
In April 2012, Canada reported a stockpile of 12,597 M483A1 155mm artillery projectiles, containing total of 1,108,800 DPICM submunitions
(806,208 M42 and 302,328 M46). Canada, voluntary Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form B, 30 April 2012.
136
Statement of Nigeria, Convention on Cluster Munitions Intersessional Meetings, Geneva, 18 April 2012. http://www.clusterconvention.org/
files/2012/04/Nigeria_StockpileDestruction.pdf. Jane’s Information Group has reported that the Nigeria Air Force possesses British-made BL-
755 cluster bombs. Robert Hewson, ed., Jane’s Air-Launched Weapons, Issue 44 (Surrey, UK: Jane’s Information Group Limited, 2004), p. 843.
137
CMC meetings with Maria Madalena Neto, Victim Assistance Coordinator, CNIDAH, International Conference on the Convention on Cluster
Munitions, Santiago, 7–9 June 2010. Notes by the CMC/Human Rights Watch. Neto later confirmed this statement, noting that the Air Force
headed up a task force responsible for the program. Email from Maria Madalena Neto, CNIDAH, 13 August 2010.
138
Statement of South Africa, UN Thematic Debate on Conventional Weapons, New York, 18 October 2010. In December 2008, South Africa
also said that a “relatively small stockpile of outdated cluster munitions” had been “earmarked for destruction.” See Statement by Charles
Nqakula, Minister of Defence, Convention on Cluster Munitions Signing Conference, Oslo, 3 December 2008.
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