Key developments since May 2005: Although there are no recorded mined areas in mainland France, it has treaty obligations in respect of any mined areas under its jurisdiction or control elsewhere. France announced that it planned to initiate clearance of antipersonnel mines around its ammunition depot in Djibouti in October 2006, more than seven years after becoming a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty.
The French Army maintained an ammunition depot outside the town of La Doudah in Djibouti.[1 ] The depot, which is located a few kilometers from the town center, was protected by antipersonnel mines laid by the French Army in the 1970s to protect it from thieves.[2]
No casualties from mines have been reported in the French territory at La Doudah.
Heavy rainfall and floods in 1989 resulted in the movement of some mines beyond the barbed wire fence that enclosed the minefields.[3 ] Limited demining operations were conducted after the flooding, but some mines remained.[4 ] In October 2003, the French Army conducted a preparatory mission, which determined the area was contaminated by some 700 mines and recommended that a mechanical sifter be used to clear the area.[5 ] In March-April 2005, the military conducted a second mission to prepare a provisional timetable and establish the technical requirements of the clearance operations.[6]
Following the preparatory mission in 2005, the army decided that mine clearance would start in October 2006, since climatic conditions (notably the heat and the hot, dry “Khamsin” wind that blows for about 50 days a year) prevent clearance operations between June and September each year.[7]
In May 2006, France stated that, “The preparations for demining operations are being finalized, and the Ministry of Defense has already initiated the internal process to validate the results of those preparations, which will allow the launch of the operational phase.”[8 ] As of the end of June, the administration had still not validated the technical component.[9 ] Thereafter, the Army General Staff must give its final approval to enable demining operations to start in October 2006. However, the army did not exclude the fact that, due to “new administrative constraints,” validation of the project could take more time, thereby delaying the start of operations.[10]
These new administrative constraints refer to a decree promulgated by the Prime Minister on 26 October 2005, which reorganized the process of undertaking and checking demining operations carried out by the Ministry of Defense. The main objective of the decree was to align army safety instructions applicable during the preparation and undertaking of clearance work (except for emergency demining) with common safety instructions laid down in the French Labor Code and applicable to civilian clearance operators.[11 ] Consequently, plans for the La Doudah demining project had to be revised in 2005-2006 to comply with the new decree. In 2006, the French Army had to conduct a study on explosives safety to comply with the new formalities outlined in the decree.[12 ]
Once initiated, the army will carry out clearance under the responsibility of the commander of French forces in Djibouti. Machines will be used, starting with mechanical ground preparation, in order to optimize operation of the sifter and possibly other mechanical equipment to be used afterwards. If necessary, clearance will be completed manually.[13] In its Article 7 report of April 2006, France declared its expectation that, in the absence of major unforeseen technical problems, the clearance operation would be completed in 2008.[14 ] Previously, completion was planned for mid-2007. After clearance, the area will remain under the jurisdiction and control of France.[15 ]
Under Article 5 of the Mine Ban Treaty, France is required to destroy all antipersonnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control as soon as possible, but no later than 1 March 2009. In May 2006, France stated that, “everything is implemented so that demining [of La Doudah] can be achieved as soon as possible, and in any case, before ... France’s deadline of 2009.”[16]
As well as setting a deadline, Article 5 requires that a State Party complete clearance as soon as possible, implying that any unjustified delay in initiating demining is not consistent with the treaty’s obligations.[17] Although missions were conducted in 2003 and 2005, no antipersonnel mines have been cleared from the La Doudah depot since France became a State Party more than seven years ago.
[1 ] See also the report on Djibouti in this edition of the Landmine Monitor.
[2] “France to clear its Landmines from Djibouti,” Agence France-Presse (Nairobi), 30 November 2004.
[3 ] See Landmine Monitor Report 2004, pp. 396-397.
[4 ] Article 7 Report, Form C, 26 April 2006.
[5 ] Commission nationale pour l’élimination des mines antipersonnel (CNEMA), “Rapport 2003,” pp. 22-23. CNEMA was created in 1998 by France’s law implementing the Mine Ban Treaty.
[6] See Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 323.
[7] Paper (untitled) given by Benoît Duchenet, Capitaine de frégate, during a CNEMA meeting on 24 June 2005; Article 7 Report, Form C, 7 July 2005; see Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 323.
[8 ] “Les travaux préparatoires aux opérations de dépollution sont aujourd’hui en cours d’achèvement et le ministère de la défense a déjà engagé le processus interne de validation des résultats de ces travaux, qui permettra de lancer la phase opérationnelle.” Statement by Amb. François Rivasseau, Permanent Representative to the Disarmament Conference, Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 11 May 2006. Unofficial translation by Landmine Monitor.
[9 ] Telephone interview with official who requested not to be named, Ministry of Defense, 30 June 2006.
[10] Interview with Ministry of Defense official, Geneva, 11 May 2006.
[11 ] “Décret no. 2005-1325 du 26 Octobre 2005 relatif aux règles de sécurité applicables lors des travaux réalisés dans le cadre d’un chantier de dépollution pyrotechnique” (“Decree 2005-1325 of 26 October 2005 on the security regulations applicable to work in the category of pyrotechnic disposal”), www.admi.net, accessed 4 June 2006; interview with Ministry of Defense official, Geneva, 11 May 2006.
[12 ] Interview with Ministry of Defense official, Geneva, 11 May 2006.
[13] Paper by Benoît Duchenet, CNEMA meeting, 24 June 2005; email from Ministry of Defense official, 1 September 2005.
[14 ] Article 7 Report, Form C, 26 April 2006.
[15 ] Email from Ministry of Defense official, 1 September 2005.
[16] “Tout est mis en oeuvre pour que ces travaux de dépollution soient achevés le plus tôt possible, et en tout état de cause avant l’expiration du délai imparti aux Etats parties pour achever leurs opérations de déminage, délai qui, pour la France, se présentera en 2009.” Statement by Amb. François Rivasseau, Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 11 May 2006. Unofficial translation by Landmine Monitor.