The Kingdom of Bahrain has not acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty. Last year’s Landmine Monitor Report noted significant developments in Bahrain, but no further progress has been reported since that time. In April 2005, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told the ICBL that internal processes to consider accession were underway, and that no ministry objected to joining the agreement; only an internal lack of resources was holding up the accession process.[1] Bahrain has expressed the need to coordinate with other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states regarding accession.[2]
Bahrain did not attend as an observer the Sixth Meeting of States Parties in Zagreb, Croatia in November-December 2005, nor the intersessional Standing Committee meetings in Geneva in June 2005 and May 2006. Bahrain’s first and only participation in a Mine Ban Treaty-related meeting was the First Review Conference in Nairobi, Kenya in November-December 2004.
Bahrain has voted in favor of every pro-ban UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution since 1996, including UNGA Resolution 60/80 promoting universalization and full implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty on 8 December 2005.
In April 2005, Bahraini officials confirmed that the country has never produced, exported or used antipersonnel mines and is not mine-affected.[3] In September 2004, Ministry of Defense officials said that Bahrain keeps a “limited” stock of antipersonnel mines for training purposes only.[4]
There have been no reports of mine casualties in Bahrain, or of Bahraini nationals suffering mine injuries abroad. Landmine Monitor has never recorded a contribution by the Bahrain government to international mine action programs.
[1] Notes from ICBL meetings with Mohamed Ghassan Shaiko, Director for International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Manama, 12 April 2005, and Dr. Yusuf Abdulkarim Mohammed, Director for Legal Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Manama, 13 April 2005. The latter stated that a document reviewing the requirements for Bahrain should it join the Mine Ban Treaty had been drafted and was circulated for comment among relevant ministries; he also said Bahrain was in communication with Qatar about aspects of implementation of the treaty.
[2] Notes from ICBL meeting with Dr. Yusuf Abdulkarim Mohammed, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Manama, 13 April 2005. In September 2004, Ministry of Defense officials also spoke of the need for consultations with GCC member states on the issue. Mission Report by Amb. Satnam Jit Singh, UN Mine Action Service consultant, 30 September 2005.
[3] Notes from ICBL meeting with Mohamed Ghassan Shaiko, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Manama, 12 April 2005.
[4] Mission Report by Amb. Satnam Jit Singh, UN Mine Action Service consultant, 30 September 2005. Landmine Monitor has been unable to determine whether a US stockpile of 3,124 antipersonnel mines identified in Bahrain in 2000 is still in the country following the conflict in Iraq.