Western Sahara

Following the reduction of the operational exclusion zone from 30 km to 15 km in March 2025, expanded territorial access led to a direct increase in the survey and clearance of cluster munition-contaminated areas. A total of 0.76km² of contaminated land was cleared in 2025, and a further 0.2km² was cancelled through non-technical survey (NTS), marking the first land release through survey in four years. While the armed conflict between the Polisario Front and Morocco has remained at a low intensity and without recorded use of cluster munitions, previously unrecorded cluster munition remnants (CMR) continue to be found, with 0.16km2 of legacy contamination newly identified in 2025.

• The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) should reaffirm in writing its commitment to respect and implement the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), including clearance of all CMR, consonant with its international human rights obligations. This commitment should include annual submission of voluntary Article 7 transparency reports.

• The Saharawi Mine Action Coordination Office (SMACO) should finalise and adopt the newly drafted strategy, ensuring it includes a revised deadline for completion of CMR clearance, annual survey and clearance targets, and a detailed budget.

• Greater support should be provided to SMACO to enable it to continue coordinating mine action in Western Sahara east of the Berm and to ensure that the remaining explosive ordnance contamination is addressed.

Click here to download the full "Clearing Cluster Munition Remnants 2026" report for Western Sahara.