Africa Should Not Allow the Ban on Cluster Munitions to be Undermined

The document warns that a proposed Protocol to the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) would allow some countries to continue trading, stockpiling, and using cluster munitions, thereby weakening the international legal standard established by the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM). It highlights that Africa is disproportionately affected by these weapons, with nearly a third of affected countries and territories located on the continent. The author urges African states to maintain their commitment to a total ban to avoid setting a dangerous legal precedent where a lower standard of international law is adopted after a higher one has already been agreed upon.

• A proposed Protocol to the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) would allow certain countries to continue the trade, stockpiling, and use of cluster munitions, which are described as causing 'unacceptable harm to civilians'.
• Cluster munitions are dangerous due to explosive remnants of war (ERW); sub-munitions often fail to explode on impact, leading to casualties long after conflicts end.
• Africa is significantly impacted by cluster munitions, accounting for nearly one-third of affected countries and territories, including Uganda, Angola, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, and Western Sahara.
• The 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), which entered into force on 1 August 2010, prohibits the production, stockpiling, transfer, and use of these weapons and includes provisions for victim assistance and area clearance.
• Major producers including Russia, China, and the United States, along with India and Pakistan, are expected to support the use of cluster munitions until at least 2026, with the proposed draft making no provision to stop future production.

APA

Stott, N. (n.d.). Africa Should Not Allow the Ban on Cluster Munitions to be Undermined. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/africa-should-not-allow-the-ban-on-cluster-munitions-to-be-undermined

Chicago

Stott, Noel. Africa Should Not Allow the Ban on Cluster Munitions to be Undermined. Institute for Security Studies, n.d. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/africa-should-not-allow-the-ban-on-cluster-munitions-to-be-undermined.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Stott |first1=Noel |title=Africa Should Not Allow the Ban on Cluster Munitions to be Undermined |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |url=https://issafrica.org/iss-today/africa-should-not-allow-the-ban-on-cluster-munitions-to-be-undermined |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{stottndafrica, author = {Stott, Noel}, title = {{Africa Should Not Allow the Ban on Cluster Munitions to be Undermined}}, publisher = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.org/iss-today/africa-should-not-allow-the-ban-on-cluster-munitions-to-be-undermined}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }