Morocco and Western Sahara

Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Volume 11 Issue 2 The Journal of Mine Action Article 36

April 2008

Country Profile Center for International Stabilization and Recovery at JMU (CISR)

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Recommended Citation Profile, Country (2008) "Morocco and Western Sahara," Journal of Mine Action : Vol. 11 : Iss. 2 , Article 36. Available at: https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cisr-journal/vol11/iss2/36

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Morocco and Western Sahara Pakistan by Chad McCoull [ Mine Action Information Center ] by Kateland Shane [ Mine Action Information Center ]

n addition to suffering from continual has stockpiled at least six million AP mines— Looking Ahead y the time Spain abandoned its Organizations have had dif- suicide bombings and other violent ter- the fifth largest stockpile in the world.3 While The recent conflicts surrounding or Western Saharan claims in 1976, ficulty keeping precise mine incident rorist acts, residents of Pakistan must Pakistan has shown support for the interna- involving Pakistan have left a large threat three warring factions had emerged, records in Western Sahara, but surveys Iface the threat of landmines and unexploded tional ban on AP mines, the country has not yet of mines and explosive remnants of war for takingB up arms over custody of the terri- indicate that from 2000 to 2006, mine- ordnance. The country has had problems with acceded to the Ottawa Convention.7 Pakistan both Pakistan and its neighbors. The continu- tory: Morocco seeking southern annexation, related casualties ranged anywhere from one mines, UXO and terrorism since the Soviet has ratified Protocol II of the Convention on ing instability in the region and Pakistan’s Mauritania seeking northern annexation, death in one 12-month survey period to 51 invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. Pakistan Certain Weapons8 and is an active participant lack of governmental support has allowed and Saharan natives seeking to establish their deaths in another.5 The Swiss Foundation for also has been involved in several disputes with in CCW meetings.3 the situation there to compound itself. The own nation, the Saharawi Arab Democratic Landmine Victim Aid has repeatedly found India since 1947. use of mines in multiple conflicts and a lack Republic. Consolidating control over their children age 18 and under to be the most Renewed Threat of mine-action efforts between conflicts have Saharan homeland with a guerrilla army, likely population to be injured by landmines A History of Violence In December 2006, the Pakistani govern- left multiple generations of mines and ERW. these natives united as the Frente Popular por in Western Sahara. It is estimated that only tion, the country’s stockpiles have been nearly In 2002, an attack on the Indian parlia- ment announced possible plans to mine the In addition, internal struggles and continued la Liberación de Saguia el Hamra y Río de Oro, 32 percent of disabled Moroccan children, demolished. Over 300 international visitors ment led the forces of both India and Pakistan border with Afghanistan. Pakistani officials acceptance of the use of landmines has made better known as the Polisario. The Polisario ages 4 to 15, attend school.6 Of the 5 percent attended the Polisario’s destruction of the final to lay mines along the Line of Control, the argued that the move would secure the bor- current mine-action efforts difficult. rebels eliminated the weak Mauritanian forces of Moroccans with a disability, 12 percent are 3,321 AP mines in its stockpile in February de facto border in the Kashmir territory.1 der with Afghanistan and keep the Taliban The present mine and UXO situation by 1979, at which point Morocco was able to employed.6 2007.8 Morocco has retained a small quantity The two countries have disputed the terri- from moving in and out of Afghanistan.9 After ensures continued casualties in Pakistan, par- seize control of Western Sahara’s southern of AP mines as an educational tool.6 tory since 1947. Pakistan and India have since much speculation and international criticism, ticularly in the areas closest to the LoC, such region. In order to prevail during the dead- Mine Action signed a ceasefire, but some reports estimate Pakistani Foreign Minister Khursheed Kasuri as the Abbaspur and Hajira Tehsils in Poonch locked standoff with the Polisario, Morocco At the time Morocco and the Polisario Dispute Settlement that nearly 200,000 mines were laid during announced at a press conference in Germany district.11 The Federally Administered Tribal pursued a military strategy involving the agreed to discontinue their use of land- Morocco and the Polisario have met on the standoff. Although the Pakistani mili- that the government had decided against using Area along the border with Afghanistan construction of six berms, or three-foot tall mines in 1991, the United Nations established multiple occasions to resolve their issues. tary claims to have cleared 80 percent of the landmines.10 Pakistan will instead rely on remains contaminated as well, as evidenced (one-meter) earthen walls, supplemented MINURSO, also known as Mission des Nations The second attempt at such an agreement in land, mines continue to affect the region. In building fences and monitoring its border.10 by the 2,300 or more estimated mine victims with landmines. The berms divide the mid- Unies pour l’Organisation d’un Référendum 2003 failed to satisfy Morocco.9 In August June 2007, forest fires and rising temperatures currently living in the Kurram Agency.13 In dle of the territory, extending 1,690 miles au Sahara Occidental. In order to maintain 2007 the United Nations provided a two-day triggered the explosion of over 200 mines Survey, Marking and Clearance Balochistan province, mine incidents occur (2,700 kilometers)1 from the southwest to peace and improve the environment on both retreat with researched presentations for the along the Line of Control, injuring livestock At present, there is no central mine- less frequently but are still of concern.1 northeast of the Western Sahara. When the sides of the berms, many of MINURSO’s mis- two sides to negotiate a resolution, but par- and causing other damage to nearby villages.2 action authority or center in Pakistan. All Future mine-action efforts will rely on United Nations imposed an end to hostilities sion objectives involve mine action: marking ties were ultimately unable to arrive upon an Residents in Kashmir also claim that there are mine/UXO clearance and marking activities the various NGOs operating in the country; in 1991, Morocco and the Polisario dropped mines and UXO, publishing maps for safe pas- agreeable peace plan.10 The prospect of peace some mined areas along the LoC that have not are conducted by the military.3 In May 2005, help from the government seems unlikely their weapons, but they have yet to arrive at a sage throughout the territory, destroying and is an important step toward full mine clear- been properly marked or fenced.3 Response International conducted a mine- but the possibility of renewed use of mines peaceful reconciliation. fencing minefields and promoting mine-risk ance and elimination in Western Sahara. Mines were used against Pakistan during impact survey in Pakistan. The results of the seems probable. Until Pakistan commits itself education for locals and refugees.3 Moroccans, the Polisario, and Algeria-based the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Federally survey showed that there are about 1,200 mine/ to abandoning the use of landmines and the Mine Problem Though inconsistencies in recordkeeping refugees all depend on mine-action groups to Administered Tribal Areas along the border UXO victims living in Pakistan and a mine/ establishment of national mine-action insti- Over a period of three years after the make it difficult to determine MINURSO’s cleanse Western Sahara so that they can one with Afghanistan remain the most affected UXO accident rate of up to 15 per month.11 tutes, the situation will continue to claim the onset of the war, Morocco purchased US$6.5 impact thus far in Western Sahara, one esti- day safely inhabit the region again. by the remains of these mines, many of which Response International conducted another lives of those in the affected areas. million worth of VS-50 anti-personnel and mate finds that from 1999 to 2005 MINURSO See Endnotes, page 113 were dropped by helicopter or laid defensively survey in Pakistan in early 2006, examining See Endnotes, page 113 VS-1.6 anti-tank mines.2 Though Morocco marked 1,294 dangerous objects, marked by Soviet and Afghan forces.4 7,189 households. They also began a two-year never manufactured or exported mines, both 831 dangerous territories and helped remove In addition to these conflicts, Pakistan also survey in December 2005. The organization Morocco and the Polisario imported and used 37,629 mines and pieces of UXO.6 Other par- is plagued by internal violence. Militants, ter- is currently working on compiling a data- an unidentified number of landmines, artil- ties involved in such activities include the rorist organizations and other armed groups base of mine/UXO survivor information in lery shells and ordnance during the 15-year Royal Moroccan Army, the Mauritanian gov- have employed mines and explosives, result- Pakistan.3 conflict. Within the formal boundaries of ernment, and concerned nongovernmental ing in civilian casualties. Insurgents have used their country, mines do not threaten the safety organizations such as the UK-based Landmine mines defensively around their own camps Mine-risk Education of most Moroccans today. Authorities believe, Action. In 2006 Landmine Action taught an and offensively along roads and in the moun- Nongovernmental organizations have been however, that just under 39,000 square miles ordnance-disposal training program to 12 tains and plains of Pakistan.3 In March 2006, heavily involved in mine-risk education in (100,000 square kilometers) of the disputed Polisario engineers, all of whom have since Chad McCoull joined the Jour- 28 people in a wedding party were killed by an Pakistan, including the Pakistan Campaign to Kateland Shane has worked as an Edi- Western Sahara contain many varieties of graduated and begun destroying mines.4 nal of Mine Action in January 2007 anti-tank mine while crossing a stream in the Ban Landmines, the Community Motivation torial Assistant for the Journal of Mine 3 as an Editorial Assistant. He is cur- unexploded ordnance. The bulk of the mines Isolating and eliminating the mine threat Balochistan province. Authorities claim the and Development Organization, Response Action since May 2006. She gradu- rently a technical and scientific com- are buried along the berm, comprising the is an important step toward making the ter- mine was laid by tribal insurgents.5 Suicide International UK, Islamic Relief and Mines ated from James Madison University munication major at James Madison 4 3 in May 2007 with a Bachelor of Sci- longest uninterrupted minefield in the world. ritory inhabitable and peaceful. One of the University. He is pursuing a concen- bombings are also prevalent in Pakistan. In Advisory Group. MAG works closely with ence in technical communication. She In regions far from the berm, explosive rem- most noteworthy mine-clearance operations tration in online publications and July 2007, suicide bombers killed over 50 peo- Islamic Relief to provide MRE to residents in is currently pursuing a Master of Arts a minor in writing and rhetoric. 6 nants of war like cluster munitions, endanger in Western Sahara took place in May 2001 ple in Pakistan during a string of attacks. the Kashmir district along the contaminated in technical communication at JMU. civilians living in Polisario-controlled areas. when the RMA destroyed 3,000 anti-tank and Pakistan is one of the few countries Line of Control. Following a 2005 assessment, Chad McCoull 7 Kateland Shane Landmines and other ERW not only prevent 37,000 anti-personnel mines. In May 2006, Editorial Assistant still manufacturing anti-personnel mines. MAG trained 20 workers from Islamic Relief Editorial Assistant inhabitants from living comfortably on the MINURSO improved the marking of mine- Journal of Mine Action Although Pakistan has not exported land- in a four-week workshop to provide MRE in Journal of Mine Action land, they also prevent the homecoming of laden sites by constructing 450 warning signs.6 Mine Action Information Center mines since 1992, the country has been a Kashmir as part of a larger MRE project.12 The Mine Action Information Center E-mail: [email protected] 160,000 Saharawi refugees currently residing Though many Western Saharan minefields major exporter in the past. According to esti- joint MAG/IR education project is expected to E-mail: [email protected] in Algeria.4 still await marking and fencing and destruc- mates from the Landmine Monitor, Pakistan reach 70,000 people.3