African Union, ICRC Roundtable Seeks Innovative Tech Solutions for Landmine Clearance in Africa


The African Union Commission (AUC), in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), hosted a roundtable discussion on the ongoing challenges posed by landmines and Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) in Africa as part of the Commemoration of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.

The event highlighted the devastating impact these weapons have on communities and explored innovative solutions for faster and more cost-effective demining.

Read more…
Source: International Committee of the Red Cross


Sign up for our Newsletter


Related:

  • Cameroon Deploys Troops to Fight Separatists

    June 17, 2021

    Cameroon this week deployed an additional 300 troops to Bui, a northwestern administrative unit that the military says has become a stronghold for separatists. The troops are conducting house-to-house searches for weapons and destroying improvised explosive devices and rebel camps. But Civilians accuse both sides of abuses and rights violations. Cameroon’s military says Bui, an administrative ...

  • Nigeria: Boko Haram finally confirms Shekau’s death, urges loyalty

    June 17, 2021

    Nigeria’s Boko Haram jihadist group has confirmed the death of its chief Abubakar Shekau, who sources say died during infighting with a rival Islamic State-allied faction, according to a video message from its presumed new commander. In the short video in Arabic, top Boko Haram commander Bakura Modu, also known as Sahaba, urged his faction’s commanders ...

  • UN experts warn of IED proliferation in DR Congo

    June 15, 2021

    A group of UN experts overseeing sanctions in the Democratic Republic of Congo has warned of a proliferation of homemade bombs in the country’s northeast, in an annual report seen by AFP Tuesday. In suggestions to the Security Council, the group encouraged the UN’s MONUSCO peacekeeping mission to increase its capabilities “including its awareness, search, detection ...

  • Allied Democratic Forces: The Ugandan rebels working with IS in DR Congo

    June 14, 2021

    The eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo has long been a cradle of rebel activity, often the spill-over of conflict in neighbouring Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda. Among the most notorious groups now operating there is Uganda’s Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). The Islamist militant outfit was formed in the 1990s and primarily concerned itself with domestic ...

  • Two Mali soldiers die in suspected jihadist ambush in Gao

    June 14, 2021

    Two soldiers have been killed in an ambush by suspected jihadists and eight United Nations troops wounded by a landmine in conflict-riven Mali, military and UN sources said Sunday. “Two of our men were killed by terrorists on Saturday night in an attack on one of our checkpoints, 60 kilometres (40 miles) southwest of Gao,” a ...

  • Somalia: Newly deployed AMISOM staff officers complete induction training

    June 13, 2021

    Fifty-Four (54) staff officers who recently deployed to serve under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), have completed induction training as part of their integration into the mission. The training, which kicked off in the various AMISOM sectors nearly a month ago, ended on Friday with the completion of the course by the last 15 ...

  • Ivory Coast: Police officer, two soldiers killed in a blast near the border with Burkina Faso

    June 13, 2021

    Two soldiers and a police officer were killed when their vehicle hit an explosive device in northeast Ivory Coast near the border with Burkina Faso, the military said Sunday. Army chief of staff General Lassina Doumbia said that at around 7:00 pm (1900 GMT) on Saturday a reconnaissance patrol “was the subject of a complex attack” ...

  • One soldier killed in Ivory Coast attack

    June 8, 2021

    At least one soldier was killed in an attack in northeastern Ivory Coast near the border with jihadist-hit Burkina Faso, the military said Tuesday. “Armed individuals” late Monday attacked the village of Tougbo in the district of Bouna, armed forces headquarters said in a statement. An Ivorian soldier died of wounds, it said, citing a provisional toll. Read ...

  • Shabaab mounts increased rate of attacks inside Kenya

    May 29, 2021

    Over the last several weeks, Shabaab, al Qaeda’s branch in East Africa, has conducted a bevy of attacks inside northeastern Kenya. Since the beginning of the year, the jihadist group has steadily claimed operations inside the country. Starting on May 21, three Kenyan police officers were killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Mandera ...

  • Abubakar Shekau – Battle for supremacy among Islamist groups bodes ill for Sahel

    May 26, 2021

    The Nigerian military says it is investigating claims that the Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau is dead. His death has not been independently confirmed. It is also not the first time a claim like this has been made. The reports have nevertheless raised questions about who has the upper hand in the region – Boko ...

  • UK to send 250 specialist troops to Somalia to battle Al Shabab

    May 24, 2021

    Britain is to send 250 troops to Somalia as the country battles against Al Shabab terrorists. The move, to take place “within the next 12 months:”, will represent the first official engagement of the new Army Ranger regiment. It comes just months after the creation of the Special Operation Brigade was announced by former SAS commander ...

  • Ethiopia appeals for International support to combat landmines

    May 22, 2021

    The government of Ethiopia appealed for international support in its effort to eradicate the Anti-Personnel Mines legacy concealed in different parts of the country as a result of previous armed conflicts. The appeal for support includes financial and technical assistance, including military equipment. The country has gone through many armed conflicts internally and with external aggressors as ...

  • International NGO to demine 7 million sqm conservation area in Zimbabwe

    May 21, 2021

    APOPO, an NGO operating in countries where there are landmines left over from previous conflicts, is working on a grand-scale project that will help local communities and wildlife in Zimbabwe, clearing more than seven million square metres of land. The US government has given a grant to APOPO, or Anti-Personnel Landmines Detection Product Development, to clear ...

  • Kenya: 3 police officers killed in al Shabaab IED attack in Mandera

    May 21, 2021

    Three police officers were on Friday killed and three others injured when they were ambushed by al Shabaab militants in Banisa, Mandera county. Witnesses said the attackers had set an Improvised Explosive Devise on the road which hit a speeding police vehicle. This caused the vehicle to be badly damaged and burnt. The vehicle was carrying at ...

  • The Desert Rats Ready Their Skills for Peacekeeping Mission

    April 30, 2021

    The second UK taskforce to deploy to the United Nations Peacekeeping Operation in Mali is undertaking its final mission rehearsal exercise before deploying. The Desert Rats follow in the footsteps of The Light Dragoons-led taskforce who received a welcome reaction from the local population, with some of the locals asking them “to stay forever”. Lieutenant Colonel Will ...

  • Kenya Deploys KDF Troops to DR Congo for Peacekeeping Mission

    April 26, 2021

    Kenya is set to deploy Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in a mission to enhance peace and stability. According to an agreement between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his DRC counterpart Felix Tshisekedi, the troops will be deployed to the eastern part of the Central African country. The deployed troops will work ...

  • UAE begins first flights to support counter-terrorism operations in the Sahel

    April 25, 2021

    The UAE has launched “logistical support flights” as part of French-led counter-terror operations in the African Sahel. The first flight took off from Abu Dhabi watched by Maj. Gen. Saleh Mohammed Al-Ameri, commander of joint operations at the Ministry of Defense, and Xavier Chatel, France’s ambassador to the UAE. Maj. Gen. Al-Ameri said the UAE’s efforts would ...

  • Towards Zero Contamination in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

    April 21, 2021

    Every year on 4th April, the world celebrates the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), UNMAS, in collaboration with the Congolese Mine Action Coordination Center (CCLAM), celebrated the event, chaired by the DRC’s Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Gilbert Kankonde. The national theme adopted ...

  • AMISOM forces equipped to clear explosives in Jowhar

    April 13, 2021

    Twelve soldiers attached to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) bomb squad in Jowhar, HirShabelle State, have completed specialized training on countering Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). IEDs are locally manufactured explosives which have become the main weapon of choice for Al-Shabaab terrorists in Somalia. Conducted by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) over seven weeks, ...

  • Somalia: 6 Killed, 4 Injured In Mogadishu Suicide Bombing

    April 4, 2021

    At least six people have lost their lives and four others sustained injuries after a suicide bomber blew himself at a cafe on Saturday evening in the capital Mogadishu. In a Statement from Somali Police Spokesman, Sadiq Adan said six people including an infant among those killed when a suicide bomber blew up himself at a ...

  • Switzerland to send demining experts to Sudan

    March 31, 2021

    The unarmed experts will support the planning and carrying out of demining operations as part of an international peace mission, according to the defence ministry. Peace and stability in the African country is also in the interest of Switzerland, the ministry said on Wednesday. Mines and other explosive devices still pose a danger for the civilian population ...

  • Nigeria: Boko Haram blows up power tower in Maiduguri

    March 27, 2021

    Barely three days after electricity was restored in Maiduguri, Boko Haram terrorists have plunged the North-East city into darkness again after blowing up a power tower on Saturday. In January, the terrorists had struck power installations thrice to keep the city in the dark. It took power authorities almost two months to repair the damage inflicted in ...