AFRICANEWS

Sudan

The scourge of landmines

Statistics on landmines in Sudan paint an alarming picture. It is estimated that anything from half a million to 2 million landmines exist in this war torn country, the bulk of which are in South Sudan.

Though the government of Sudan and the Sudan Peoples Liberation Army (SPLA)-the major players in the war arena-have signed international agreements prohibiting the use of landmines, observers argue that from time to time both parties have had to resort to landmines when hard pressed on the battle fronts. Khartoum is a signatory of the 1997 Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of the use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction. It has yet to ratify the Convention. On the other hand, last month the SPLA signed the non-state Geneva Call for Adherence to a Total ban on Anti-personnel mines and for Cooperation in Mine Action.

Observers argue that since Khartoum signed the Ottawa Convention four years ago, it has done little or nothing to remove mines planted since the start of this war in 1983. It is believed that almost all government-controlled towns in the South are heavily mined in their surroundings.

A year before the Ottawa Convention, the SPLA unilaterally declared a moratorium on the use of landmines. But three years ago, when troubled flared up between two rival tribes allied to the SPLA in the town of Chukudum in eastern Equatoria, landmines again became the preferred weapons.

The history of landmines in Sudan dates back to the Second World War. However, landmines in the South can be traced to the Anyanya war of 1955-1972. Aleu Ayieny Aleu, the Executive Director of Operation Save Innocent Lives (OSIL), an NGO that deals with mine clearance in South Sudan, says landmines have had a devastating effect on society. Several roads were abandoned soon after the above war ended. Aleu stresses that nothing was done to remove these mines (mostly anti-tank) and up to now they still kill and maim people.

But since the start of the current war, the use of landmines has increased dramatically. In addition to anti-tank mines, anti-personnel mines, unexploded ordinances (UXOs), and cluster bombs dropped by the government airforce, have been introduced in a much larger scale.

In the last five years, OSIL has identified 251 minefields and says there could be more. As a sign of how serious the situation is, its annual report this year says the organisation has removed 141 anti-tank mines, 85 anti-personnel mines and 11,289 UXOs from only 80 miles of road. All these from only three counties: Yei, Juba and Magui.

Asked how large an area is yet to be cleared, Mr. Aleu said, "it is a lot. A big area is not yet cleared". The annual report says "it will take decades to clear 251 minefields".

Throughout South Sudan, long forgotten minefields continue to kill and maim thousands everyday. Most of the victims are women and children. Many continue to die unreported. "What you may hear from ICRC or WHO is just the tip of the iceberg. Many people are dying elsewhere in the bush and it is not reported, nor do they get aerial evacuation to the ICRC hospital in Lokichokio", says Mr. Aleu.

However since OSIL started operating, it has cleared mines from roads,villages and most towns in SPLA controlled areas. As a result, casualties have greatly reduced. For instance, only 30 people lost their lives as a result of stepping on mines this year. Four years ago, 45 lives were lost in one month-at least the reported ones.

Wildlife has also been affected by mines. From April to March this year, nineteen cows and six elephants were killed in the Ashwa valley near the town of Nimule on the Ugandan border. Four people died trying to get meat and tusks from the elephants after stepping on mines, says the OSIL report.

Besides destroying lives, landmines have the effect of destroying people psychologically. Says Mr. Aleu: "The issue of landmines is not the numbers. It’s psychology-because a rumor alone is enough to deny people the use of land or a road".

Thus large tracts of land in the South remain uncultivated because of rumors of the presence of mines. And until such areas are inspected, (regardless of whether the rumors are true or not) and certified to be safe, many are denied their means of livelihood from the soil.

Survivors of landmines face a crushing financial burden. For instance, if the main breadwinner becomes a victim, the whole family is affected. Awake magazine in a special report on landmines last year said "in a developing country, a child who loses a leg at ten years of age may need up to 15 artificial limbs, during his or her lifetime, each of which will cost, on the average, US$ 125". War induced poverty in South Sudan ensures that this is beyond the means of many.

Among the challenges facing the de-mining process in this part of Africa is the continuation of the war. In 1997, the United Nations estimated that war hampers de-mining because "for every mine cleared, 20 are laid".

Another obstacle is expense. It is estimated that a single mine costs between US$ 3 and US$ 15, but to remove, one can cost up to US$ 1000! But Mr. Aleu says the situation is different in South Sudan. "For us we don’t believe in that. Last year it was US$ 15 per mine. This year we computed it to US$ 6".

Money, according to Mr. Aleu, is not what motivates his employees, but rather nationalism and the feeling that mines hurt "our mothers, sisters and wives". He argues that it would cost more if a non-indigenous NGO was carrying out the job. He says his employees are not even insured.

But still getting funding is difficult. International concern about landmines in South Sudan is negligible due to lack of media attention. This has resulted in lack of donor interest in funding mine clearance projects. Coupled with this, is the perception in the international community that de-mining is a post conflict enterprise.

Being a brainchild of the SPLA, OSIL is perceived by some factions, especially in parts of Upper Nile, as not being neutral. As a result, this has limited its operations to areas controlled by the SPLA. Since it is the only mine clearing NGO in the South, this has serious consequences for the civilian population in Upper Nile.

By signing the Geneva Call, the SPLA is among the first non state actors to abandon the use of landmines. In a speech delivered on the occasion of the signing in Geneva, Commander Nhial Deng Nhial said the "decision was triggered by the simple fact that we are fighting for a peaceful homeland and not a turbulent minefield". For his words to become a complete reality, more money is needed for mine clearance operations in South Sudan.

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