Morocco
Mine Ban Policy
Policy
The Kingdom of Morocco has not acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty.
Officials from Morocco have repeatedly stated that the dispute over Western Sahara is the only obstacle preventing Morocco from acceding.[1] At the Mine Ban Treaty intersessional meetings in 2019, Morocco stated it is committed “to the convention and its humanitarian principles” of the treaty, and has been voluntarily active in its obligations to clear minefields and destroy stockpiles.[2]
On 5 December 2018, Morocco voted in favor of UN General Assembly Resolution 73/61 calling for universalization and full implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, as in previous years.[3]
Morocco regularly submits voluntary Article 7 reports, including in 2019.[4] Morocco also regularly attends Meetings of States Parties, most recently the Seventeenth Meeting of States Parties in Geneva in November 2018 and the intersessional meetings in Geneva in May 2019.
Morocco is party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) and its Amended Protocol II on landmines. Morocco is not party to CCW Protocol V on explosive remnants of war, nor is it party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.
Use, stockpiling, production, transfer, and retention
Morocco reiterated at the Meeting of States Parties in 2018 that it has never produced or transferred antipersonnel mines.[5]
Morocco has acknowledged extensive use of mines in the past, most notably at the berms (defensive earthen walls) it built from 1982 to 1987 to secure the northwest corner of Western Sahara. There have been no confirmed instances of mine use since that time.[6]
In May 2009, in response to a Monitor questionnaire, “Does Morocco reserve the right to use antipersonnel mines in the future?” Morocco replied, “Non.”[7] Morocco also stated that it stopped the use and stockpiling of antipersonnel mines in 1987 and that it has never produced antipersonnel mines.[8]
In May 2009, Morocco told States Parties that it still possesses antipersonnel mines that are used for training its army for participation in peacekeeping operations.[9] Its Article 7 report submitted in March 2017 does not provide the number of mines retained.[10]
[1] Interview with Gen. Ben Elias, Royal Moroccan Army, and the two generals heading the second and third military zones, Agadir, 27 October 2008; interview with Nasser Bourita, Director, Department of International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rabat, 29 October 2008; and Permanent Mission of Morocco to the UN, “Response to Questions from the Canadian NGO Mines Action Canada,” 18 May 2009.
[2] Statement of Morocco, Mine Ban Treaty Intersessional Meetings, Geneva, 24 May 2019.
[3] “Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction,” UNGA Resolution 73/61, 5 December 2018.
[4] Morocco has previously submitted reports in 2006, 2008–2011, 2013, and 2015–2019.
[5] Statement of Morocco, Mine Ban Treaty Seventeenth Meeting of States Parties, Geneva,26 November 2018.
[6] The government of Morocco and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguía el Hamra and Río de Oro (Polisario) have periodically traded accusations of new mine use, but both have denied it. See, Landmine Monitor Report 2009, p. 1,023.
[7] Permanent Mission of Morocco to the UN, “Response to Questions from the Canadian NGO Mines Action Canada,” 18 May 2009.
[8] Ibid. It also stated this in, statement of Morocco, Standing Committee on General Status and Operation, Geneva, 25 May 2009. In July 2006, Morocco told Landmine Monitor that it stopped using antipersonnel mines at the time of the Western Sahara cease-fire in 1991, and that it no longer stockpiled antipersonnel mines, except for training purposes. Response to Monitor questionnaire by Morocco, July 2006.
[9] Statement of Morocco, Standing Committee on General Status and Operation, Geneva, 25 May 2009. Morocco also said it only kept mines for training in 2006 and 2007. Response to Monitor questionnaire by Morocco, July 2006; and statement of Morocco, Addressing the Human Costs of Anti-personnel Landmines and Explosive Remnants of War, Seminar for States of the Maghreb, Tunis, Tunisia, 9–10 September 2007.
[10] Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form C, 20 March 2017.