Ethiopia

Although Ethiopia did not report any survey or clearance in 2023, The HALO Trust reported clearing 0.24km² of mined area during its first full year of operations – a six-fold increase on output the previous year. In 2023, Ethiopia initiated drafting of a national mine action strategy and national mine action standards (NMAS) and worked towards a functioning national database. An NMAS on accreditation was approved in May 2023. At the time of writing, DanChurchAid (DCA), Danish Refugee Council (DRC), and Humanity & Inclusion (HI) had received accreditation and each was expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding  (MoU) with the Ministry of Defence (MoD). Mines Advisory Group (MAG) was also seeking accreditation at the time of writing.

Prior to The HALO Trust commencing operations in Ethiopia in 2022, the pace of clearance in recent years had been exceedingly slow. Between May 2019 and May 2020, Ethiopia reported clearance 1.76km²,Article 7 Report (covering 31 April 2019–31 April 2020), Form D. but only a further 60,000m² was released in January 2021 to end-March 2022.Article 7 Report (covering January 2021–March 2022), Form C. In 2022, HALO was able to clear a further 39,243m²,Email from Rob Syfret, (then) Head of Region, Horn of Africa, HALO, 10 April 2023. but increased this six-fold in 2023, its first full year of operations. While, at the time of writing, Ethiopia had still not submitted the updated work plan requested by States Parties when granting its Article 5 deadline extension request in 2019, Ethiopia did repeat the pledge to undertake nationwide survey.

Mine action has been greatly set back by the conflict between the Federal Government and non-state armed groups (NSAGs) in the Tigray region in 2020. Citing the need for an urgent response to explosive ordnance (EO) threats, the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) established a Mine Action Area of Responsibility (MA-AoR) in Ethiopia. Collaboration between UNMAS and the Ethiopian Mine Action Office (EMAO) has resulted in a concerted recent effort to reorganise and rejuvenate the national programme.

Prior to The HALO Trust commencing operations in Ethiopia in 2022, the pace of clearance in recent years had been exceedingly slow. Between May 2019 and May 2020, Ethiopia reported clearance 1.76km²,Article 7 Report (covering 31 April 2019–31 April 2020), Form D. but only a further 60,000m² was released in January 2021 to end-March 2022.Article 7 Report (covering January 2021–March 2022), Form C. In 2022, HALO was able to clear a further 39,243m²,Email from Rob Syfret, (then) Head of Region, Horn of Africa, HALO, 10 April 2023. but increased this six-fold in 2023, its first full year of operations. While, at the time of writing, Ethiopia had still not submitted the updated work plan requested by States Parties when granting its Article 5 deadline extension request in 2019, Ethiopia did repeat the pledge to undertake nationwide survey.

Mine action has been greatly set back by the conflict between the Federal Government and non-state armed groups (NSAGs) in the Tigray region in 2020. Citing the need for an urgent response to explosive ordnance (EO) threats, the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) established a Mine Action Area of Responsibility (MA-AoR) in Ethiopia. Collaboration between UNMAS and the Ethiopian Mine Action Office (EMAO) has resulted in a concerted recent effort to reorganise and rejuvenate the national programme.

• Ethiopia should produce an updated work plan, with revised estimates of contamination, annual survey and clearance targets, and a detailed budget, in accordance with the terms of its Article 5 deadline extension.
• The work plan should include a clear implementation plan for Ethiopia’s stated commitment to re-survey all mined areas, as a matter of priority, to establish an accurate baseline of contamination.
• Ethiopia should ensure its national mine action centre has sufficient resources to sustain an effective mine action programme and mobilise the necessary resources to complete clearance.
• Ethiopia should continue with its recent efforts to establish a functional Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA) database.

Click here to download the "Clearing the Mines 2024" report for Ethiopia.