On 18 June, UNIDIR – with support from the European Union (EU) – together with partners including the Mines Advisory Group launched a new initiative aimed at enabling States Parties to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) from the African region in fulfilling obligations and advancing towards a continent free from the threats posed by anti-personnel mines.
Introduced on the sidelines of the APMBC Intersessional Meetings in Geneva, the initiative “Working towards a mine-free Africa: Building African capacity to remove threats posed by anti-personnel landmines to peace, security and development” comes at a critical time.
Since 1997, the APMBC has achieved significant progress – facilitating widespread mine clearance and reducing human costs of weapons. Yet, challenges persist. Thirty-three States Parties have outstanding Article 5 (mine clearance) obligations. Sixteen of these are from Africa, and many face constraints in securing domestic resources and international cooperation including assistance.
These challenges have been compounded by broader pressures on arms control and humanitarian disarmament instruments, which in turn underscores the importance of the effective implementation by all States Parties of the APMBC and its universalization.
Strengthening capacity and accelerating progress towards completion
As part of this initiative, a dedicated project aims to support five of the African States that are receiving low levels of international cooperation and assistance to fulfill their APMBC Article 5 obligations. It has two, interconnected objectives:
- First, to build national capacity in up to five African States to fulfil their APMBC Article 5 obligations related to mine clearance and land release; and
- Second, to promote and support the exchange of knowledge and experience on building African national capacity to implement APMBC obligations.
It will focus on African States Parties that have existing extensions granted by the Meeting of States Parties, established national action plans, and comparatively small or medium levels of contamination. These include Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Senegal, South Sudan, and Zimbabwe. The diversity and uniqueness of each context can help generate knowledge and understanding of how targeted support can be adapted to different country settings.
In addition to strengthening national capacities, the initiative will help ensure that the knowledge and experiences generated are socialized among key stakeholders. This includes other APMBC States Parties, African Union (AU) and UN Member States, other regional organizations such as the AU, regional economic communities, expert non-governmental organizations, and the public at large.
Ultimately, this will benefit communities and individuals – including women, men, girls and boys – who continue to suffer from the negative, age-differentiated and gendered impacts of anti-personnel landmines on the African continent, and elsewhere.
The project is implemented by UNIDIR’s Conventional Weapons Programme, in cooperation with the Mines Advisory Group (MAG), and in close coordination with the APMBC Implementation Support Unit (ISU), other stakeholders and partners.
Speaking at the launch event, and joined by all partners and the APMBC Zambia presidency, the EU highlighted its commitment to humanitarian disarmament and its concrete support for the initiative:
The EU Council has committed 3 million EUR under the Common Foreign and Security Policy budget to support five African States close to completion in fulfilling their Article 5 obligations through a 36-month project, implemented by UNIDIR in partnership with MAG.
Ambassador Michele Cervone d’Urso, Deputy Head, EU Delegation to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva
The EU further emphasized the initiative’s alignment with its broader strategic priorities on peace, security and sustainable development, as outlined in its Global Strategy and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
An inclusive, cooperative and partnership-driven approach
Central to the initiative is a strong emphasis on national ownership, cooperation and coordination across stakeholders to translate political commitments into practical, on the ground impact.
As President of the convention and as an African State, Zambia is honoured to have been part of the launch of this project that will accelerate progress toward a mine-free future.
Mulima Lisimba, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Zambia to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva
Zambia further stressed that humanitarian disarmament including mine action is not only a technical undertaking, but a humanitarian imperative, adding that “behind every clearance target and compliance deadline are communities seeking safety, dignity and the opportunity to live free from the threat of landmines.”
Juan Carlos Ruan, Director of the APMBC Implementation Support Unit, also highlighted the initiative’s contribution to strengthening the overall functioning of the convention. This includes cooperation between States Parties in meeting legal obligations related to Article 5 and commitments. It also means generating lessons that can inform broader discussions to strengthen cooperation and assistance, as well as progress of the Siem Reap–Angkor Action Plan (2025–2029).
Delivering practical results and shared knowledge
The project combines research, analytical and knowledge-exchange with operational components. Key core activities will include:
- joint initial review meetings with national authorities,
- joint piloting and use of a prioritization tool, and
- upon request support in the preparation of annual reports.
Key optional and context-specific activities may include:
- surveys;
- clearance operations; and
- institutional and operational capacity-building provided by MAG (such as for example in information management, national standards, explosive ordnance risk education and community liaison).
At the same time, UNIDIR and its partners will document lessons and facilitate exchanges among African States Parties and the wider international community. This includes:
- a knowledge-exchange workshop and report,
- development of a prioritization tool,
- publication of country-specific factsheets and analytical outputs,
- co-hosting and organization of events in the margins of regional and international forum both in multilateral Geneva and in African countries.
Over the next three years, activities will focus on delivering concrete clearance outcomes, strengthening national systems, and generating actionable knowledge for the community of policy and practice. Partners also intend to engage regularly with European and African States Parties, regional organizations, and international stakeholders to share progress and findings, including through side events at future APMBC meetings, the conference of states parties, and regional outreach in Africa. Thus, the beneficiaries will not only be the five States, but also other APMBC States Parties, and the international community at large.
Looking ahead
During the initial phase, UNIDIR and MAG will hold joint review meetings with national authorities of the five States. The aim is to support States Parties in identifying, further prioritizing and sequencing assistance to fulfil Article 5 obligations. This should help move from broad expressions of needs towards structured, prioritized and nationally owned plans that can also inform individualized approaches, international assistance requests, and future cooperation.
The initiative aims to enable States and the continent to take ownership in fulfilling Article 5 obligations and commit to shared responsibilities in working towards a mine-free Africa.
Other States in Africa and beyond face significant Article 5 challenges and require sustained international cooperation and assistance. This initiative and dedicated project is therefore a first, targeted, and focused contribution. It may become a vehicle and has the potential to generate further interest, support and resources to achieve mine-free objectives. Additional resources allowed expanding the geographical scope of the project or the type and depth of support that could be provided.
By working together, governments, regional organizations, implementing partners, donors, and affected communities, can make significant progress.
Mulima Lisimba, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Zambia to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva
