Conventional Weapons Management and Disposal - MAG report, December 2010

* Any views expressed in this article are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.

MAG and Conventional Weapons Management and Disposal (CWMD) MAG uses the term CWMD to refer to its work in support of weapons and ammunition disposal and security. This includes dealing with Small Arms and Light Weapons, as well as items such as aircraft bombs, large calibre artillery, mortar ammunition and rockets. The term also reflects the different roles that MAG takes on within this sector, from direct clearance activities and Physical Security and Stockpile Management, to capacity building and training. CWMD is a coordinated and integrated approach which supports states to develop sustainable solutions to armed violence, and is an essential contribution to local, national and regional security and aspects of Armed Violence Reduction. MAG is currently undertaking CWMD projects in Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Iraq, Rwanda, Somalia and Sudan. BURUNDI MAG Burundi started in 2007 with a programme to support the Government of Burundi in reducing the threat of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and unsecured stockpiles. MAG is currently offering technical support to the Weapons Destruction Workshop and is supporting the Burundian Government in implementing the Nairobi Protocol - Articles 6, 7, 8 and 9. In December, the comprehensive Physical Security and Stockpile Management (PSSM) project with the Police Nationale du Burundi (PNB) was implemented in remaining police stations in Region Centre and West with funding from the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs. The MAG-Civilian Defence (CD) mobile team collected seven weapons, 45 magazines, 209 items of ammunition and 2,200 items of Small Arms Ammunition (SAA) and destroyed 720 ammunition and 90,000 SAA. The physical security team improved the security of Small Arms and Light Weapons in two armouries and at the Brigadier training school in Muramvya. This completed the PSSM project with the PNB. During this 18-month project, MAG has collected a total of 3,614 weapons, 6,826 magazines, 13,978 items of ammunition and 1,019,590 items of SAA, and secured SALW in 173 police armouries in all five Police Regions of Burundi. The project contributed to reducing the risks of leakages, thefts and accidents from police SALW stocks, thus supporting a reduction in armed violence in Burundi. The training of the Army SALW survey team was completed on December 20, following practical training in six SALW depots. The survey, funded by the Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs, will take place until the end of February and will allow the Army to identify the main issues regarding the management and storage of their SALW stocks, as well as identify solutions. Latest news and case studies from MAG Burundi DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC) MAG DRC launched a nationwide CWMD programme in September 2006 and in May 2007 received written authorisation from the Ministry of Defence to destroy surplus military stocks in all Military Regions. Also in May 2007, a destruction centre was established by MAG at the Central Logistics Base in Kinshasa. In September 2008 MAG received written authorisation from the Ministry of the Interior (extended in April 2009) to commence CWMD activities with the Congolese National Police. MAG DRC is currently operating one mobile CWMD team, a mobile stockpile assessment team, and the destruction team based at the Logistics Central Base under funding from the US Department of State's Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement. Under funding from the Dutch Government MAG is also creating official national Physical Storage and Stockpile Management (PSSM) standards, providing training in these standards and undertaking the evaluation and refurbishment of ammunition stockpiles. Under MAG’s year-long PSSM project, funded by the Dutch Government, the MAG team continues to work with the FARDC working group from the Ordnance Department of the Logistics School in Kinshasa to develop a PSSM training programme. The FARDC/PNC/MAG working group’s draft norms were presented to appropriate authorities in December and are currently under review. A technical study of the ammunition magazines in Camp Kokolo was completed in December. This assessment is currently being used to draft architectural plans. The rehabilitation work in the arms destruction workshop continued in December and should finish in January. A study for the rehabilitation of the armoury in Camp Kokolo was completed in December. The tender for therehabilitation works will be launched in January. Finally, a Risk Assessment (physical infrastructure) for police and military arm stockpiles was developed and is currently under review. Under the US Department of State funding, two mobile destruction teams were active during the first two weeks of December, destroying three tons in Kikwit. The Arms Destruction Workshop destroyed an additional 800 arms during December. Latest news and case studies from MAG DRC IRAQ MAG Iraq started implementing the CWMD programme in August 2007 with the support of US Department of State's Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement. To date, MAG Iraq Conventional Weapons Disposal teams have successfully responded to more than 10,020 emergency tasks to safely remove and destroy 293,810 conventional weapons items. Since it began, MAG Iraq's CWMD programme has directly benefited more than one million individuals. MAG’s Small Arms and Light Weapons Risk Education (SALW RE) programme began with Risk Education sessions in schools in July 2008. Working with local partners, MAG’s SALW RE warns children of the threats of playing with SALW, with the aim of reducing the risk to children in homes with unguarded SALW. In December, four CWD response teams continued operations, deploying to reported stockpiles of conventional weapons. Teams deployed 51 times from the programme’s three operation bases to 39 different villages, completing 73 emergency conventional weapons destruction tasks in Sulimaniyah, Dohuk, Mosul, Diyala and Kirkuk Governorates. This month, 6,955 conventional weapons were safely destroyed. Items included items of 70mm PG, anti-personnel landmines, anti-tank landmines, fuses, mortars, projectiles and small arms ammunition in addition to several other types of unexploded ordnance. Teams destroyed 21 stockpiles. In December, teams were operational for the first two weeks of the month before the programme stand down for Christmas and New Year's holidays. The teams will undergo one week refresher training in the beginning of January and resume operations after the completion of the training. The dedicated MAG Community Liaison (CL) teams funded by WRA conducted 11 liaison visits to seven different villages in Kirkuk and Sulimaniyah, liaising with local authorities, farmers, shepherds, teachers, village leaders and other villagers. MAG CL teams conducted three SALW RE session to 26 shepherds and students in Sulimaniyah and Dohuk governorates. Latest news and case studies from MAG Iraq RWANDA MAG started CWMD activities in Rwanda in November 2008. MAG is providing technical assistance and training to the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) in basic stockpile management and the destruction of surplus SALW and munitions. MAG has established a central weapons destruction workshop at Kanombe near Kigali and trained two RDF teams in weapons recognition and weapons cutting. A central demolition site for the destruction of munitions has been identified at Gabiro in north-east Rwanda. Operations re-started in September 2010 with a grant from the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement, US State Department. MAG Rwanda continues preparation for the IMAS EOD 3 course, alongside the Stockpile Management Courses. It is hoped MAG will receive permission to start work in the New Year. SOMALIA MAG commenced its CWMD activities in the Puntland region of Somalia in May 2008 with funding from the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement, US Department of State. MAG trained an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team consisting of seven Puntland Police officers and further provided technical assistance and equipment for the team performing CWMD activities throughout Puntland. All training and field operations are carried out in close coordination with the national governing authority the Puntland Mine Action Centre (PMAC). With further funding from the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement, activities in Puntland re-started in September 2009. The UK Government’s Conflict Pool is providing funding for additional Community Liaison Teams and survey activities from August 2010. December was a short operational month as the programme stood down on December 16. One major EOD deployment was conducted in Eyl. An extensive Battle Area Clearance task was conducted to locate a large reported cache of Italian hand grenades dating from WW2. Four RPGs were also identified and destroyed. Concurrently the TFM-TL travelled to Hargeisa in Somaliland to conduct an assessment on two armouries earmarked for rehabilitation. During the visit he met the EOD commander and SPU commander to discuss future collaboration in rebuilding one police armoury and one SPU armoury. The trip was also used as an opportunity to carry out extensive networking to facilitate these projects in the future. The Community Liaison teams continued operating throughout the whole of the month and have made excellent progress toward completion of the 92 identified communities by March 31. They are also in the process of compiling a working document listing off-shoot communities, identified in the course of their work, in need of Mine Risk Education in the future. Latest news and case studies from MAG Somalia SUDAN MAG has been implementing CWMD activities in Sudan since 2005. There are two specialist EOD teams, funded by the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement, US Department of State in southern Sudan. One team (MAT1) concentrates on operations in Central and Western Equatoria, while the second team (MAT2) concentrates on operations in Jonglei and Eastern Equatoria from the Kapoeta base. Additionally, MAG has eight Multi-Task Teams (MTTs) and 12 Community Liaison (CL) Teams operating in Kassala, Blue Nile and Greater Equatoria. While the MTTs primarily focus on minefield survey and clearance, they also carry out CW disposal as necessary. MAG Sudan conducts integrated operations and the CL teams are the main generators of UXO Dangerous Area Reports which are cleared by the MAG technical teams. In northern Sudan MTT2 (funded by ECHO) spent the majority of December in Kassala supporting MTT1 in completing the clearance of Demen minefield. However, time was still found for some Conventional Weapons (CW) clearance through eight Spot Tasks in close proximity to Kassala. During the spot tasks 12 items were found, including two mortars, four rocket propelled grenades and six hand grenades, all of which were destroyed in two demolitions. Seven Dangerous Areas were reported to CL10. Also in northern Sudan MTT3 were tasked to conduct five GMAAs in December in areas surrounding Ulu, Blue Nile State, during which 21 UXO were logistically disposed of. In southern Sudan, MAT1 (funded by the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement) spent the majority of the month in Juba and Yei Counties and completed 21 Spot Tasks, clearing 75 items directly benefiting 990 people. On December 10, the team completed a stockpile in Jebel Kujur, Juba County, and destroyed one Mortar, one Projectile and 19 grenades, directly benefitting seventy people. Additionally, the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement-funded CL team identified an anti-tank mine in need of emergency clearance due to its location on a busy pathway in Jebel Kujur. The Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement-funded EOD and SALW team responded immediately to this report and cleared the item. Also in southern Sudan MAT2 (funded by the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement) completed six Spot Tasks, destroying 600 items, in Eastern Equatoria. The team also completed one stockpile in Labone, Magwi County and destroyed 7,691 items of SAA.In total, approximately 2,030 people benefitted from the work of MAT2. MAG was delighted to host a visit from Ms. Emma Smith and Mr. John Stevens from the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement on December 4. They visited the MAG Yei base and deployed for one day with the EOD and SALW Team, supported by the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement-funded CL teams. The day was spent in Lainya County, approximately two hours from Yei, where the CL team gathered reports of DAs, and passed these on to the EOD and SALW team, thus demonstrating MAG’s integrated approach to clearance operations. A demolition was conducted with 21 UXO being destroyed, benefitting approximately 300 people. An informative and successful day was had by all. Latest news and case studies from MAG Sudan MAG would like to express its gratitude to the following current donors to our CWMD projects around the globe: • Belgian Government• CIDA• DFAIT (Canadian Dept of Foreign Affairs and International trade)• DFID• Dutch Government• ECHO• GOAL• Spanish Government• Swiss Government• UK Government, Conflict Pool• UN CHF• United States Department of State, Political Military Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement• United States Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration