Country & Territory Reports - Landmine Action

188 western sahara
Western Sahara
Background
After the withdrawal of the Spanish colonial forces in
1975, Morocco, the Popular Front for the Liberation of
Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro (POLISARIO) and
Mauritania engaged in an armed conflict for sovereignty
over the territory of Western Sahara. Mauritania withdrew
from the conflict in 1979. Parties to the conflict used a
variety of munitions throughout the conflict including a
large number of AV mines. 2111
Assessment of the problem
The Royal Moroccan army built six defensive walls, known
as “berms”, in Western Sahara and placed between one
and two million AT and AP mines around them. Due to the
risk from ERW and mines, civilians are not allowed within
five to 10 kilometres either side of these berms. 2112
Landmine Monitor has reported that the ERW contamination
in Western Sahara includes unexploded cluster
munitions. 2113 While these contaminated areas are
relatively remote, the Saharawi nomads, who live in
contaminated areas near the berms, are at risk from the
ERW and MOTAPM threat. 2114
Impact
Tens of thousands of Saharawi refugees who fled the
conflict in Western Sahara are currently located in Tindouf,
southern Algeria. Should POLISARIO and Morocco reach an
agreement and the UNHCR begin to repatriate these
refugees, they would face a serious threat from ERW/mine
contamination. In 1998, UNHCR assessment missions had
discovered several contaminated areas along a possible
repatriation route. 2115
erw and motapm – global survey 2003–2004
There are reports of at least three incidents involving
MOTAPM between 2000 and 2002 in Western Sahara,
claiming nine civilian casualties. 2116
Efforts to address the problem
Under bilateral military agreements signed by Morocco and
Polisario in early 1999, both parties committed to
cooperate with the UN Mission for the Referendum in
Western Sahara (MINURSO) in the exchange of ERW/minerelated
information, marking of mined areas, and clearance
and destruction of ERW and landmines in the presence of
MINURSO observers. Since 1997, MINURSO has facilitated
the discovery and marking of 1,123 ERW and mines and it
has participated in 750 disposal operations. 2117
Legislation
POLISARIO declared itself government in exile (The
Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic) in 1976, but since it is
not internationally recognised it cannot join any the international
treaties or conventions including the Ottawa
Convention and the CCW and its Protocols.
2111 UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), Western Sahara Updated Mine Situation, February 1998.
2112 UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), Western Sahara Updated Mine Situation, February 1998.
2113 Landmine Monitor 1999, p. 924.
2114 Landmine Monitor 2004, p. 1241.
2115 UNHCR Tindouf Road Reconnaissance Mission Report, August 1998.
2116 Landmine Monitor 2004, p. 1241-42.
2117 Report of the UN Secretary-General on the situation concerning Western Sahara, 23 April 2004.