Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) still lacks a reliable estimate of anti-personnel (AP) mined area as the overall estimate reported by the BiH Mine Action Centre (BHMAC) is significantly inflated. Although BHMAC migrated to the Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA) Core in 2024, at the time of writing, the system was not yet being used operationally. The Revised National Mine Action Strategy 2025–2027 includes land release targets of 75km2 per year for 2025 and 2026, which are entirely unrealistic given falling land release output and record-low clearance of just 0.17km2 in 2024. Operators are still not permitted to conduct non-technical survey (NTS) despite revisions made to national mine action standards (NMAS) and without which BiH will be unable to achieve the amount of cancellation needed and meet its targets. Donor confidence is waning as fulfilment of its clearance obligations under Article 5 of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) remains far out

of reach.

• BHMAC should present AP mined area data in line with international best practice, clearly disaggregating suspected hazardous areas (SHAs) from confirmed hazardous areas (CHAs).

• BHMAC should prioritise cancellation of SHAs based on desk research and deployment of NTS teams to conduct survey in order to generate a more accurate estimate of AP mined area. In line with international best practice, operators should be authorised to conduct NTS which will require a change in legislation and should be included in the forthcoming Demining Law.

• BHMAC should ensure IMSMA Core is finally operating and grant operators access to the database.

• BHMAC should delegate greater operational decision-making authority to operators, recognising their expertise and ability to make decisions about operational safety and efficiency.

• BHMAC should streamline decision-making to reduce delays in approving changes and procedures, addressing the centralisation of authority and political obstacles that hinder progress.

• BHMAC should accelerate certification of cleared areas and removal from the national database.

• BHMAC should strengthen communication and coordination with operators and other stakeholders, including by reinstating the Country Coalition, and hold technical working group (TWGs) meetings with operators that address the challenges to the implementation of Article 5.

Click here to download the "Clearing the Mines 2025" report for Bosnia and Herzegovina.