Somalia projects to eliminate landmines in 2027

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: Somalia hopes to eradicate landmines and explosives by 2027, the country’s body tasked with countering mines and explosive remnants of war has said.

Somali Explosive Management Authority (SEMA) director Dahir Abdulle said in an event to mark Mines Awareness Day on Monday that his agency was working with international agencies such as the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) to clear the deadly weapons in the country.

“While working on Landmine and Explosive Ordnance Disposal, we have succeeded in clearing many landmines in Somalia,” Abdulle said. “I hope that Somalia will be free of explosives and landmines by 2027.”

This year’s theme is Safe Ground, Safe Steps, Safe Home.

On his part, the Director-General in the Ministry of Security Yusuf Mohamed said the government was committed to eradicating mines and had taken action with the establishment of SEMA. “After the civil war in the country there are still remnants of weapons in Somalia and that is why SEMA was established to reduce landmines.”

Hamdi Hassan Mine Advisory Group (MAG) said his organisation was working with SEMA to eliminate mines in the country by raising awareness.

According to the UN, over 150 more Somalis died of IEDs and mines in 2021. In 2020, the UN says 501 Somalis succumbed to mines and IEDs but that number rose to 669.

The Minister of State for Internal Security, Farhan Ali Ahmed said as a signatory to the International Convention on the Prevention of Landmines in Somalia, the government was committed to the eradication of mines.

SEMA was established by presidential decree on August 6, 2013, and has offices in Mogadishu and all regional administrations.