The Landmine Factor in the Peacekeeping Debate in Africa

The document argues that the deployment of peacekeeping forces in Africa must account for the widespread presence of anti-personnel landmines. It discusses the development of the African Stand-by Force and the role of the Ottawa Convention in banning landmines, highlighting the specific challenges in the SADC region and South Africa's legislative efforts to criminalise landmine possession and production.

• Africa is considered the most contaminated continent regarding landmines globally; as of 2002, 30 African countries (24 in sub-Saharan Africa) were listed as affected by mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO).
• The African Union is working toward an African Stand-by Force consisting of five regional standby brigades, with a first phase targeted for 2005 and a permanent force intended by 2010 to allow Africa to mediate its own conflicts.
• Unlike conventional warfare where minefields are mapped and demarcated, landmine use in Africa is typically irregular and indiscriminate, often employing a 'lay-and-forget' approach without subsequent lifting.
• The Ottawa Convention prohibits the manufacture, stockpiling, transfer, and use of anti-personnel landmines; while 50 African countries have signed or ratified it, Egypt, Libya, and Morocco remain entirely outside the agreement.
• Within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), all member countries have signed and ratified the Ottawa Convention, though the region struggles with institutional weaknesses in facilitating mine-action operators.
• South Africa has transitioned from using landmines in its military doctrine to implementing strict prohibitions through the Anti-Personnel Mines Prohibition Act and the National Conventional Arms Control Act.
• The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) includes the combatting of the illicit proliferation of landmines and small arms on its peace and security agenda to promote sustainable growth and development.

APA

Stott, N., Sturman, K., & Cilliers, J. (2003). The Landmine Factor in the Peacekeeping Debate in Africa. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/PAPER80.PDF

Chicago

Stott, Noel, Kathryn Sturman, and Jakkie Cilliers. The Landmine Factor in the Peacekeeping Debate in Africa. Institute for Security Studies, 2003. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/PAPER80.PDF.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Stott |first1=Noel |last2=Sturman |first2=Kathryn |last3=Cilliers |first3=Jakkie |title=The Landmine Factor in the Peacekeeping Debate in Africa |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=November 2003 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/PAPER80.PDF |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stott2003landmine, author = {Stott, Noel and Sturman, Kathryn and Cilliers, Jakkie}, title = {{The Landmine Factor in the Peacekeeping Debate in Africa}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2003}, month = nov, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/PAPER80.PDF}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }