Introduction
Having become operational in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in July 2004, MAG works to reduce the threat posed by landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the country – clearing dangerous areas and using Mine Risk Education (MRE) in order to create safe access to water sources, agricultural land, medical facilities and education centres – and to destroy stockpiles of small arms and light weapons (SALW) and ammunition. The proliferation of SALW remains high and constitutes an ongoing threat to the stability and development of the country
From July 2008 to June 2009, MAG cleared 312,450 square metres of land in the country, destroying 41,577 dangerous items and conducting 1,537 MRE sessions.
From September 2006, when MAG’s Conventional Weapons Management and Disposal (CWMD) activities began in DRC, to November 2009, MAG destroyed more than 100,000 of the country’s surplus munitions and weapons nationwide – a direct contribution to peace-building in DRC and the wider Great Lakes region.
For much of 2009, four mobile teams have been operating, as well as one weapons destruction team based in Kinshasa, composed of members of the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC), operating under MAG supervision. In addition to the impressive destruction results, other highlights include receiving agreements from the Ministry of the Interior, which paved the way for MAG to start destruction and capacity-building with the Congolese police and further extend the effectiveness of operations.
Late in 2009, work started on renovating the Ordnance Department of the Inter-Ministerial Logistics School in Kinshasa. This will be the first step towards putting in place technical training around Physical Security and Stockpile Management (PSSM), which will improve the capacity of the army and police in managing their stocks of arms and ammunition.
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Technicians from the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) destroy surplus weapons stocks at the Kinshasa central logistics base in partnership with MAG. Thousands of surplus and out of service weapons stockpiled around the country pose a significant danger to the Congolese population. Top: A Community Liaison team from the MAG-trained Congolese non-governmental organisation Humanitas Ubangi gives a Mine Risk Education session to children in North Ubangi, Equateur Province. [Photos: J.B. Russell / MAG] |
Partnerships and coordination
Manual clearance and Community Liaison (CL) teams strengthened their Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) operations in Katanga and Equateur Provinces throughout 2009. MAG has continued its relationship with local non-governmental organisation (NGO) Humanitas Ubangi, building the management capacity and putting in place sustainable and accountable structures and procedures to assist in their provision of CL and MRE activities.
On the ground, a MAG CL Manager provided ongoing supervision and on-the-job training to Humanitas Ubangi CL teams operating in Equateur province. Additionally MAG formed a new partnership with another local NGO, ECC MERU, and will develop similar CL operations and structures with them to cover Kasai Oriental Province from the middle of 2009.
The 'Triangle of Death'
In Katanga, work has focused on the area surrounding Pweto, within what is known as the ‘triangle of death’. On an urgent request from the UN Mine Action Coordination Centre (UNMACC) teams deployed to Kolwezi in the South-West of the province, where they cleared the airport and the main road to the town, significantly opening up access to the area.
CL teams worked closely with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) throughout the year to ensure that refugees returning from Tanzania and Zambia are given MRE in transit camps in Pweto and Pepa before they head back to their homes. In Equateur, due to the complete lack of transport infrastructure, deployments to the outer reaches of operations take up to three months at a time and involve more than a week’s travel by boat – it’s the only way to reach these remote populations living in some of the most contaminated areas of the country.
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MAG is the only NGO currently authorised by the Congolese government to destroy all surplus small arms and light weapons. |
Emergency Response Team
In April 2009, an Emergency Response Team was created and is now based in Mbuji Mayi in Kasai Oriental Province. The team has a countrywide remit and is able to respond to emergencies within a very short space of time. So far they have deployed to a highly polluted area in Bandundu Province and operations are planned for the two Kasai provinces later in the year.
Beneficiaries
Working in areas close to the former frontline and with the relevant partner agencies, such as UNHCR, MAG focuses on bringing assistance to those most in need; creating safe access to agricultural land, water sources, medical care and education facilities, particularly in areas of high population return or where humanitarian NGOs need to safely carry out their assistance activities.
Future activities
MAG DRC plans expansion of HMA operations to cover a number of new operational areas. Technical surveys and specific demining operations are also planned and it is expected that the Emergency Response Team will respond to more requests from international organisations and NGOs and assisting humanitarian and development efforts across the country. In addition to the traditional destruction activities, MAG is planning an ambitious expansion of its CWMD activities to better address the dangers posed by poor management of arms and ammunition.
One of the first activities will put in place national stockpile management standards, as none currently exist. Other activities planned include weapons marking and tracing, civil disarmament processes, an increase in training activities and, potentially, the creation of arms and ammunition storage facilities for temporary garrisoning initiatives led by the UN for Congolese forces in the Eastern provinces.
MAG DR Congo recognises the huge challenges the country faces in reforming the Security Sector and remains committed to implementing HMA and CWMD programmes with a high humanitarian and beneficiary impact. The programme will continue to make a significant contribution to providing the population with a safer living environment and improved livelihood opportunities.
MAG would like to express its thanks to the following donors to its DRC operations: Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the UK Ministry of Defence Conflict Prevention Pool; DFID (UK Department for International Development); Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs; UK Ministry of Defence; Guernsey Overseas Aid Commission (GOAC); Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement, U.S. Department of State; Sida (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency); UNICEF.
November 2009
