Burundi’s 10-year civil war has left the country in a state of underdevelopment and insecurity, with widespread and unsecured weapons caches presenting a potential threat to national security, local communities and the country’s humanitarian situation.
MAG started working in Burundi in 2007 and divided its programme in several phases which support the Government of Burundi in reducing the threat of small arms and light weapons (SALW) and unsecured stockpiles in the country.
 |
|
MAG Technical Field Manager Didier Leonard assesses the demolition site at Mudubugu. |
MAG assists the Burundian army in destroying Man-Portable Air Defence Systems, the so-called MANPADS. Over 130 SAM-7 missiles and other items of surplus ammunition, which were at risk of theft, illegal trade or use, have been destroyed during controlled explosions outside the capital of Bujumbura.
Ongoing tensions between the government and rebel groups, the permeability of Burundi’s frontiers and the lack of methods to control the illegal trade in SALW through law enforcement have sustained the spread of SALW amongst the civilian population.
MAG therefore focuses on civilian disarmament campaigns throughout the country by increasing the capacity of the Burundian army and police force to destroy items of collected small arms and light weapons. MAG equips and trains a mobile SALW destruction team which is comprised of individuals from the army and the police force. They have the capacity to deploy throughout the country and destroy items of seized SALW, small arms ammunition (SAA) and explosives. The team can also respond to identified unexploded ordnance (UXO) spot tasks as and when required.
 |
|
MAG Technical Field Manager Didier Leonard (second from the left) and the Explosive Ordnance Team. |
MAG continues to support the central destruction facility in Bujumbura, which is presently being supported by MAG with funding from the United States Government. MAG provides continued technical support and oversight to the team to ensure that all destruction activities are carried out in a safe and appropriate manner.
This technical support is complemented by a robust training component, which will retain a central focus throughout the project implementation period. Finally, MAG ensures that there is maximum coordination and information sharing with all of the key project stakeholders, particularly all bodies that are involved with SALW remediation in Burundi.
MAG’s activities in Burundi are being supported by the Royal Netherlands Government and the Office of Weapons Removal & Abatement, US Department of State.
Links:
» Royal Netherlands Government website
» US Department of State Office of Weapons Removal & Abatement website
June 2008