Algeria

In 2024, the Algerian Army Specialised Units and Security Forces discovered and destroyed 600 anti-personnel (AP) mines during clearance of 0.30km2 (30.16 hectares). Since formally completing its national demining programme and declaring fulfilment of Article 5 of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) on 10 February 2017, Algeria has reported clearing a total of 30.45km2 as of the end of 2024. This effort included the destruction of 32,269 AP mines, of which 4,790 were isolated mines believed to be remnants of colonial-era contamination, while 27,479 were found in Tindouf province, near the borders with Mauritania, Morocco, and Western Sahara.

Given the reported extent of contamination and the scale of land cleared annually, the situation exceeds what is purely residual contamination. To date, Algeria has acted in good faith in continuing to clear and report on AP mines on its territory. But
while the number of AP mines discovered has steadily decreased since 2020 (when 8,740 AP mines were destroyed), Algeria continues to destroy very significant numbers in identified areas. According to an agreed view of States Parties to the APMBC, if a State Party discovers a mined area under its jurisdiction or control after the expiry of its original or extended Article 5 deadline and is unable to complete destruction before the next Meeting of States Parties, it should submit a request for an extended deadline. In light of this, Algeria should now request a new Article 5 deadline to enable it to complete the work.

• Algeria should clarify the extent of contamination along its south-western borders, including the size of suspected and confirmed hazardous areas, and conduct ongoing survey and clearance in line with internationally accepted land release methodology.
• Unless Algeria can clear all of the AP mined areas along its south-western border with Morocco before the Meeting of States Parties in December 2025, it should request a new Article 5 deadline.

Click here to download the "Clearing the Mines 2025" report for Algeria.