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MAG Burundi Technical Field Manager Lionel Cattaneo teaches how to make a Kalashnikov safe. |
An initial step in acquiring knowledge and know-how in the collection and destruction of all types of explosive items, MAG is providing the first training of its kind to ever be offered to the Civilian Defence in Burundi.
Reconnaissance; identification of Small Arms and Light Weapons1 and ammunition; explosives preparation, collection, transportation; standard operating procedures; security and first aid: over two weeks such courses and practical exercises take place at an intensive pace for the nine participating students.
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The students during their theory classes: the variety of ammunition used during the long crisis faced by Burundi necessitates a thorough and specialised theory course. |
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Under the monitoring of MAG Burundi Technical Field Manager Didier Perardel, the students learn to make knots to link or to ignite explosive charges: firstly with inert tools, then in real conditions. |
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First live destruction for the students: Didier explains the disposal procedure. Signatory of the Ottawa Treaty, Burundi destroyed its stocks of anti-personnel mines in April 2008. All mines recovered or discovered since are systematically destroyed in accordance with Burundi’s engagements. |
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Team picture: legitimate pride after the safe destruction of 69 anti-personnel mines. Two women are on the course: the elimination of remnants of conflict is not restricted to men! [Photos: MAG Burundi] |
The mission of the Civilian Defence is the prevention of risks and the protection of people, goods and environment against accidents and catastrophes.
If its role in cases of natural catastrophes is well known, the Civilian Defence also has another function, more obscure but just as essential: dealing with mines and explosive remnants of war.
This is the delicate task of the Humanitarian Mine Action Direction (Direction de l’action humanitaire contre les mines – DAHMI).
Indeed, after decades of troubles and 13 years of civil war, not one week passes without the discovery of abandoned or unexploded weapons or ammunition throughout the country.
During this fragile period of peace consolidation, these dangerous items continue to pose a deadly risk to the population, and slow down development and the return to a normal life.
Building local capacity is one of MAG’s priorities, and in Burundi it is essential that the Civilian Defence acquires first a capacity, and then a real autonomy, to deal with these dangerous discoveries that unfortunately risk continuing for yet more years, like in any post-war country.
The first step in a longer training plan, the course allows the students to form a team which, under the supervision of a MAG expert, will collect and destroy weapons and ammunition regularly uncovered in the country. In the coming weeks, this team will acquire essential experience to later be trained in more specialised techniques.
This way, by building its capacity step-by-step, the country’s Civilian Defence will be able to deal on its own with explosive items and contribute to eliminating these legacies of war.
Parallel to this training, MAG and the Civilian Defence are preparing the survey of areas suspected to be contaminated by landmines or unexploded ordnance around the Kibira forest, expected to start in July 2010.
This training has been made possible thanks to the support of the Swiss Government.
Note:
1 Small arms include revolvers, self-loading pistols, rifles and carbines, sub-machine guns, assault rifles, light machine guns. Light weapons include hand-held under-barrel and mounted grenade launchers, heavy machine guns, portable anti-aircraft and anti-tank guns, recoilless rifles, portable launchers of anti-tank missile and rocket systems, portable launchers of anti-aircraft missile systems (MANPADS), mortars of less than 100mm calibre.
5 July 2010
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