Ethiopia

Ethiopia reports that in 2024 a total of more than 600km2 of anti-personnel (AP) mined area was released, all in a single mined area in the Somali region. The release was achieved almost entirely through cancellation. The HALO Trust (HALO) continued clearance in the Somali region of the country, but was requested to suspend operations there in March 2024. It has been tasked to work in Afar, where it has recruited and trained new staff, and has permanently redeployed most of the staff from its programme in the Somali region across the border to HALO Somaliland.Somaliland is a self-proclaimed, though generally unrecognised, State in the north-west of Somalia. In 2024, Ethiopia issued 12 national mine action standards (NMAS) and “processed the desk accreditation for six international NGOs for field deployment”, namely: DanChurchAid (DCA), Danish Refugee Council (DRC), Humanity & Inclusion (HI), Mines Advisory Group (MAG), and BBC Media ActionBBC Media Action to be deployed for explosive ordnance risk education (EORE) and victim assistance only. Revised 2025 Article 5 deadline Extension Request, p.43. (all newly accredited), as well as for HALO.2025 Article 5 deadline Extension Request, p. 7. Ethiopia submitted its third request for an extension to its Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) Article 5 deadline on 31 March 2025, with a revised request submitted on 7 August. Ethiopia has requested a five-year extension to 31 December 2030.

• Ethiopia should accelerate efforts to produce a national mine action strategy.

• Ethiopia should urgently elaborate a resource mobilisation plan to ensure its national mine action centre has sufficient resources to sustain an effective programme.

• Upon completion of the surveys planned for 2026–27, Ethiopia should produce a further updated work plan for AP mined areas, with revised estimates of contamination, annual survey and clearance targets, and a detailed budget.

• Following the chapters launched in 2024, Ethiopia should finalise and issue a complete set of NMAS to enable land release consistent with the International Mine Action Standards (IMAS).

• Ethiopia should prioritise the urgent establishment of a functional Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA) database, following efforts ongoing since early 2024.

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