BURUNDI: Clearing booby-trapped power pylons in Bubanza

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Electricity pylons are booby-trapped with landmines, grenades and mortars in Bubanza province. MAG is removing this threat to residents, and freeing land for agricultural production. During Burundi’s decade-long civil war, the province of Bubanza was a cauldron of armed violence and instability. Due to its proximity to the Congolese border and the Kibira forest – both popular places of refuge – and fertile farmland, the province was host to a number of non-state armed groups. Bubanza also provides the capital, Bujumbura, 43km to the south, with much of its energy supply. To protect this strategic infrastructure against rebel interference, Government forces booby-trapped Bubanza’s power pylons with mines, grenades and mortars during the civil war. Unfortunately, while the war formally ended several years ago these pylons were never properly cleared. Fearing contamination, the local population has abandoned much of the land bordering these pylons. In a densely populated country where nearly every inch of land is cultivated, the socio-economic implications of this contamination have been substantial, particularly since most Burundians rely on agriculture for their livelihood. Burundi’s national electricity company has also been unable to access the pylons for maintenance, due to similar fears. Most importantly, since many pylons are located in town centres, often less than 200 metres from homes, the threat of physical harm is ever present. From July to September 2010, MAG and a team from the Government’s Mine Action Authority (DAHMi) conducted a non-technical survey, which identified a number of hazardous areas throughout the country. In response, MAG and DAHMi began a clearance programme in April 2011 in the provinces of Bubanza, Cibitoke and Bujumbura Rural. The project, funded by the Swiss Government, is being implemented by a team of nine DAHMi technical staff members and one of MAG’s experienced Technical Field Managers, Didier Perardel, who trained the team in demining techniques. Surrounded by years of overgrown vegetation and rusty barbed wire, the task of clearing Bubanza’s pylons is long, arduous, and labour-intensive. In order to free the land of Explosive Remnants of War (ERW), this undergrowth must be carefully cleared first. Teams work in three hour shifts, pausing for a 10-minute break every hour. Progress is often slow. On average each individual clears about 3-5m2 of land per day. Depending on the condition of the pylon, it can take the team up to three weeks to complete the clearance of just one pylon! Despite the difficulties of the project, however, the benefits for the local population are immediate and tangible. According to one local resident, “We no longer fear the land surrounding the pylons. We can begin planting our maize and using the land like we did in the past.” To date, the team has cleared close to 1,000m2 of contaminated land surrounding three pylons. During this work, MAG has found, removed, and destroyed one highly dangerous anti-personnel landmine, one hand grenade and one mortar – all of which were found in highly populated areas. Once the area is deemed secure by the clearance team the land is promptly returned to the local population. As such, this programme not only reduces the physical risk of ERW for Bubanza’s residents, it removes blockages to socio-economic development by freeing land for agricultural production. Furthermore, the training and experience acquired during this project is increasing the capacity of the DAHMi to deal with residual and future threats. As a signatory to the Ottawa convention, Burundi has committed itself to becoming a “mine-free” state by April 2014. This project is a major step towards that goal. For more information on MAG's work in Burundi please to go www.maginternational.org/burundi.