United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) DRC
The Democratic Republic of Congo...
United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) DRC
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has suffered nearly two decades of turmoil, particularly in the eastern provinces. The use of landmines was a feature during the conflict and Explosive Remnants of War from the fighting remain a hazard.
UNMAS established a presence in the DRC in 2002 to assist MONUSCO and GoDRC with explosive hazard management activities. In compliance with Security Council Resolutions 2098 (2013), 2463 (2019) and more recently 2717 (2023), UNMAS DRC runs two main projects in the DRC, one related to explosives hazards and one for the Small Arms and Light Weapons on behalf of MONUSCO in support of the MONUSCO, the GoDRC and the UN Country Team (UNCT). In December 2023, SCR 2717 was adopted by the Security Council that called for: ‘Calls for continued national efforts to address the threat posed by the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons, including inter alia through ensuring the safe and effective management, storage and security of their stockpiles of weapons and ammunition, with the continued support of MONUSCO, as appropriate and within existing resources’ (OP15) as well as Advise and support the DRC authorities in the disposal of weapons and ammunitions of disarmed Congolese and foreign combatants in compliance with resolution 2424 (2018) as well as applicable international arms control treaties, including the Nairobi Protocol of which the DRC is signatory party and the Kinshasa Convention (OP 34 ii (j))
UNMAS DRC supports MONUSCO in the achievement of its mandated objectives under the strategic component: (1) Protection of Civilians (PoC) and Human Rights. UNMAS DRC does so through explosive hazard management, including survey, clearance and disposal of explosive hazards, including unsafe ammunition stockpile of FARDC and Congolese national police, assessment and destruction of unserviceable, obsolete or surplus ammunition from Troop/Police Contributing Countries (T/PCCs) and assessment and destruction of weapons and ammunition surrendered during the disarmament, demobilization, repatriation, reintegration and resettlement process, supporting national efforts to address the threat posed by the uncontrolled proliferation and misuse of SALW in the DRC; provision of awareness sessions to UN personnel; as well as through the provision of technical support and advice on weapons and ammunition stockpile management both to the GoDRC and relevant MONUSCO sections. UNMAS DRC also stands ready to support any other requests from the Mission, wherever possible, for example, the assessment and clearance of Mission premises on closure, prior to returning to civilian use. These activities are in line with the UNMAS Strategic Objective 2 and 4 of the UNMAS Multi-Year Strategic Plan and contributes to UNMAS vision for the DRC: “ a country free from the threat of mines, explosive hazards, and armed violence, where communities live in a safe and secure environment, and where national security institutions and authorities have the capacity to address the residual explosive threat and adequately store and manage their weapons, ammunitions and stockpiles.”
UNMAS SALW project
Under MONUSCO direction and in line with it’s mandate, UNMAS aims to develop National capacities to improve the securization of Small Arms Light Weapon (SALW) and ammunition of the National Defense and Security Forces. It is implemented through equipping and training the National Forces and Police for a better physical and processed securisation of armament and ammunition. Under MONUSCO's request, SALW project also contributes to the selection and destruction of obsolete arms and ammunition. In the perspective of the potential MONUSCO exit, UNMAS is aimed at improving the National Capacities especially in developing WAM training delivered to the units receiving UNMAS equipping support.