Moroccan Diplomat: 813 Killed by Landmines in Western Sahara Conflict

This heavy toll paid by Moroccans occurred in violation of the Ottawa Convention, reports Al Ahdath Al Maghribia. According to diplomat Omar Zniber, 2,692 Moroccans have been victims of this recklessness of the Polisario militias. They have scattered these mines all over the place since the beginning of the conflict. In his statement, the head of the Moroccan representation in Geneva specified that Morocco has always ensured the care of the victims since 1975.

During his intervention, he recalled that the Kingdom has always actively participated in all the meetings of the Anti-Personnel Mine Convention, including the Ottawa Convention, both through its Royal Armed Forces and through experts from various departments and civil society. Continuing his intervention, the permanent ambassador returned to the efforts made by the Moroccan authorities since 1975, within the framework of the Agreement signed with MINURSO in 1999. It provides for the exchange of information, the marking of mined areas, demining and the destruction of mines and unexploded ordnance.

For Omar Zniber, Morocco has been involved in 377 demining teams in the period 2014-2020. According to him, 13 demining modules are permanently installed on the ground with 964 emergency interventions carried out during the same period. In total, these operations have made it possible to eliminate the threat over an area of 5,763.88 km² by neutralizing 96,758 landmines, including 49,336 anti-personnel mines and 21,035 explosive remnants of war.