By Deng Machol
The South Sudan National Mine Action Authority (NMAA), in collaboration with UNMAS, UNMISS, and the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), marked International Mine Awareness Day by urging increased efforts to clear leftover explosives from previous conflicts throughout South Sudan.
The event also marked the official launch of the South Sudan National Mine Action Strategy for 2024-28, which aims to promote accountability, coherence, and a unified strategic direction among all involved parties.
The event was enthusiastically celebrated, with performances such as songs and dances and an exhibition of clay artwork created by schoolchildren to demonstrate their perspective on how mine action saves lives and promotes peace.
As South Sudan transitions from conflict to peace, landmines and unexploded ordnance remain dangerous remnants of past violence, impeding aid delivery, agricultural activities, refugee resettlement, and posing threats to local communities.
The country’s Deputy Minister of Interior, David Marial Gumke, emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts to save lives, foster peace, and build a more secure future for the people of South Sudan.
“Wars are fought, peace is made, but nothing is more inspiring than the power of collective action. Together, we will overcome the challenges and pave the way for a South Sudan free from explosive ordnance contamination,” said Marial, adding the country will continue to face explosive hazards that have long been planted in their midst.
Following its hard-won independence from Sudan, South Sudan became embroiled in another civil war, exacerbating the country’s hunger and economic problems.
According to the United Nations, the country’s five-year conflict has hampered landmine clearance efforts.
Despite the 2018 peace agreement, which aimed to bring stability and democratic processes, disagreements among the warring factions persist, delaying the December 2024 elections.
The majority of landmines and anti-personnel mines date back to the liberation war and were primarily planted by former Sudanese army forces.
In response to the challenges of mine action activities, the government passed the National Mine Action Authority Act in 2023. Furthermore, South Sudan ratified the Convention on Cluster Munitions last year.
UNMAS reports significant progress, with more than 84 million square meters cleared of cluster munitions and mines since 2004. This clearance includes agricultural lands and roads, allowing humanitarian aid to reach communities in need, protecting civilians, releasing land for farming and other productive endeavours, and allowing people to go about their daily lives fearlessly.
Our plans are to clear all known contaminated hazardous areas by June 2028 in terms of land mines and cluster Munitions,” Tomasevic told the press.
Although accidents have been reported, Tomasevic clarifies that they are mostly related to anti-personnel mines rather than landmines. The most vulnerable demographic is children, who are frequently drawn by curiosity to play with objects found on the ground.
UNMAS has placed significant emphasis on explosive ordnance risk education to inform and change the local population’s behaviour.
“Funding to the sector has reduced significantly,” said Mike Rashid, the Director General for the National Mine Action Authority. This mired the country to meet its timeline for 2026 of the anti-personal mine. However, he believes the country is anticipated to eliminate explosive hazards by June 2028.
“There will be no any meaningful peace without mine action involved in because you cannot tell me that there is peace – [When] people are still dying and being blown off by mine so it will really be important if they are removed,” said Rashid.
Meanwhile, Christian Sedat, the German Ambassador to South Sudan, has expressed his country’s willingness to assist humanitarian demining efforts.
“We are convinced that humanitarian mine action contributes to enabling people to live in safety and indignity,” said Sedat.
“It prepares the ground for reconstruction stabilization, post-conflict, peacebuilding, and sustainable development.”
Since 2004, UNMAS reports that landmines and unexploded ordnance have killed or injured over 5,000 South Sudanese. The country aimed to clear anti-personnel minefields and cluster munitions by 2026.
