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Key developments since May 2000: Algeria completed the internal ratification process for the Mine Ban Treaty in December 2000, but has not yet deposited its instrument of ratification at the United Nations.
Algeria signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 3 December 1997 and ratified it by Presidential decree 2000-432 on17 December 2000.[476] In May 2001, Algeria announced that the ratification process had been completed and that, “by virtue of this ratification, my country commits itself to comply with the provisions contained in the Convention and to cooperate toward its full implementation.”[477] Algeria’s instrument of ratification has not yet been deposited at the United Nations.
Algeria attended the Second Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty in September 2000 with a delegation led by the head of its Mission to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador MohamedSalah Dembri. Algeria participated in the intersessional Standing Committee meetings for the first time in December 2000 and again in May 2001, where it made a statement announcing ratification. In November 2000, Algeria voted for UN General Assembly Resolution 55/33V, calling for universalization of the Mine Ban Treaty, as it had done with similar pro-ban resolutions in previous years. No information was available on the status of the National Algerian Committee Against Antipersonnel Landmines, which was established by the government in 2000.
Algeria is not party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons.
Algeria is not believed to have either produced or exported antipersonnel mines. In the past, it imported antipersonnel mines, but no new information is available on the quantity or types of stockpiled mines.
There are continuing reports of mine incidents in Algeria, but it is not possible to discern whether these reports reflect new use of antipersonnel mines or explosions of previously laid mines. There are some allegations of continued use of homemade mines (improvised explosive devices) and possibly conventional mines by the insurgent GIA (Groupe Islamiste Armé) forces, but Landmine Monitor was unable to confirm these allegations.
Algeria has a landmine problem dating back to World War II, when German and Italian troops laid mines in the northern coastal regions. French troops laid mines on the borders with Tunisia and Morocco until 1962, mainly along the electrified “Challe et Morice” Line.
In its statement to the May 2001 Standing Committee meeting, Algeria noted its mine problem dating from “colonial times” and stated that “the number of these mines reached 13 millions and 3,000 victims have been deplored [sic] since the independence, in 1962. Since then, the Algerian authorities have undertaken mine clearing operations, but a lot remains to be done in this field.”[478] The “13 millions” figure is likely a typographical error; another source indicates that there are approximately 1.3 million mines in place, including 913,000 in the eastern frontier and 4,200 in the western frontier.[479]
In 2000, Algeria approached the United States for mine action assistance, but no funds have been granted yet.[480] In addition to Army deminers who clear border areas, the National Security Police are also reported to have a team of Explosive Ordnance Disposal experts to deal with mines and improvised explosive devices in urban areas.[481]
Apart from media reports, Landmine Monitor could not obtain any updated information on mine casualties in the reporting period, either military or civilian.
On 18 June 2000, a soldier was reported killed when he stepped on a “rebel” mine in the Zbarbar mountains.[482] On 8 July 2000, another soldier was reported killed by a mine in the Dellys region (east of Algiers).[483] On 15 July 2000 three members of the gendararmerie and a local policeman were reported killed after their vehicle ran over a landmine near the eastern port of Skikda.[484] Also on 15 July, six soldiers were reported “badly injured” after a mine exploded under their vehicle.[485]
In September 2000 the Ministry of National Solidarity and Handicap International (HI) signed a partnership agreement that will allow HI to establish a program to provide assistance to the disabled in Algeria.[486]
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[476] Journal Officiel de la République Algérienne, number 81, 30 December 2000, p. 3.
[477] Ibid.
[478] “Intervention on the ratification by Algeria of the Ottawa Convention,” undated and not attributed but the statement was delivered by Nassima Baghli, Counsellor, Permanent Misson of Algeria, Geneva, during the universalization discussion in the intersessional Standing Committee meeting on General Status and Operation of the Convention, Geneva, 11 May 2001.
[479] Le réseau d’échanges multidisciplinaires pour l’environnement et le développement (Multidiciplinary Network for Environment and Development), Algeria, Regional conference on the dangers of landmines in the Arab countries, 11-12 February 1999.
[480] At a meeting on 14 September 2000, the interagency demining working group decided not to approve Algeria for inclusion in the US mine action assistance program, but the decision-making body noted that its decision would be revisited once a peace agreement was in place in the country. US Department of State, Office of Humanitarian Demining Programs, “Fact Sheet: Meeting of the Interagency Working Group on Demining, September 14, 2000."
[481] Interview with Dr. Djamel Ould Abbès, Minister of Solidarity, Algiers, 3 July 2000.
[482] “Four dead, 15 injured in latest Algerian Islamist rebel attacks,” EFE News Agency via COMTEX, 19 June 2000.
[483] “30 More Algeria Deaths Reported,” Associated Press, 9 July 2000.
[484] Originally reported in Le Matin on 16 July 2001. See “Four members of Algerian security forces killed by extremists,” Deutsche Presse-Agentur (Algiers), 18 July 2000.
[485] Originally reported in El Watan (daily newspaper). See “Four members of Algerian security forces killed by extremists,” Deutsche Presse-Agentur (Algiers), 18 July 2000.
[486] Convention de Partenariat conclue entre le Ministère chargé de la Solidarité Nationale et l'Association Handicap International, 6 September 2000.
