$2.4 million sought to continue de-mining in 2004

A coalition of 10 local and international de-mining organisations has appealed for US $2.4 million to fund the continued clearance of minefields in Guinea-Bissau during 2004. Most of the mines in this small West African country were laid during the 13-year war against Portuguese colonial rule which ended in 1974. But there was also an extensive laying of new mines during the civil war of 1997-98. During that conflict, land mines were planted in and around the capital Bissau, many of them near houses and schools. A Mine Action Centre (CAAMI), the only one in the sub-region, was established in May 2000 to begin the task of clearance. Since that time, some 2,500 land mines have been removed, most of them anti-personnel devices. De-mining organisations hope they can free Bissau city of land mines during the year ahead. The head of CAAMI, César Lopes de Carvalho, said he also wanted to extend clearance activities northwards towards the Senegalese border, where there is thought to be a heavy concentration of mines. Both the Senegalese and Guinean armies have laid mines along the border to try and disrupt operations of separatist guerrillas fighting for the independence of Senegal’s southern Casamance region. Carvalho stressed that an agreement between both governments was required before de-mining around the frontier could begin. The head of CAAMI said he also wanted to target Gabu in the east of Guinea-Bissau. The government still has a stock of over 3,000 mines, which the government has promised to destroy under the terms of the 1997 Ottawa Convention. In addition to its land mines problem, Guinea-Bissau also has huge quantities of unexploded ordinance. This also poses a danger to the civilian population.